hi! sorry for this naive question but how does the practice of this exercise improve the execution of a painting? I dont understand how to take advantage of it. Perhaps Im overthinking this or is it only to understand how the values interact between them? thanks!

My first value study

These are my complex light studies, two lands scapes and one traditional painting

I have done some simples studies to understand better how to proceed with more complex compositions, i tried to keep it as simple as I could, I will appreciate any critiques or suggestions for nexts studies, thanks

I am currently working on a study challenge for September, created by YouTube art vlogger, Kelsey Rodriguez. Prompt #2 for the challenge is "value study." Since this prompt overlaps with the subject of this lesson, I figured I would post my study here. I used quite a lot of gradations and blending brushes in this study. In addition to studying the values and "effect" of the image, I was also experimenting to see how I might replicate the lighting phenomena in the photograph. Since I do not have much experience digitally painting, pushing the rendering slightly is helping me to learn how to use my layers and brushes. In the end, I think I found a good starting strategy for painting this type of aerial image. In these value studies, I am never color picking from the photograph. I only color pick from the center swatches. For the swatches, I can test the values by painting over the photograph on another layer and visually checking whether they match.

And here is my complex value study using value similarity. A Doré woodblock illustration was my reference.

I made a simple value study using light logic. My reference was the simplified head sculpture Andrew Joseph Keith shared with the community last week. (What a great learning tool!) By my standards, this was a quick one. I set up the (digital) canvas last night before bed, doing the yellow underpainting at that time. This morning I did the sketch. I treated it as a mini accuracy exercise, but this time trying to move faster and just a little looser than in my previous exercises. I did the value study this afternoon. I was experimenting with being "painterly" in CSP. My painting came out with higher contrast than the reference photo, though in most cases that would not be a bad thing. It is also possible I am not fully understanding lighting scenario. The key light seems to be above, to the right of, and slightly in front of, the head. But where, exactly, I am not sure. I am seeing the left forehead, the left cheekbone, the right cheek, and the right neck as belonging to the same value group. Officially, I was treating this value group as "dark halftones"; however, I couldn't help but think of them as shadows as I was painting.

first attempt at a value study, breaking down the whole image into 4 values. any crits welcome, thank you!

Are there any techniques to finding out how "evenly distributed" the steps between the values groups are? I noticed that with this study, I ended up with dark values that are closer together, and light values that are further apart.

Value studies of David with Blackwing Pencils and Prismacolor ebony. Both from photos and any feedback is welcomed!

Value studies. Two from supplied materials, one from an outside model pack.

Does anyone know what kind of photoshop brush that is?