This SIMPLE EXERCISE Will Change the Way you PAINT - Values and Blending Tutorial

Values are essential to create realistic paintings because they reveal the presence of light. It is through values that light can be represented on the surface of the object, giving it the illusion of form and volume. Light and shadows are omnipresent and if we are used, from childhood, to represent things with symbols, with abstract lines, the actual, visual reality is that our eyes only perceives masses of value. There are no lines in nature, only patterns of light and dark shapes next to each other.

Today, we are going to talk about an Atelier inspired exercise that will help us explore values in a simplified way to better visualize the large areas of shadows, midtones and highlights. This exercise consists of making a still life with only three values and not blending from one area to another, which means that all the value areas will have hard edges, as if they had been cut out of paper.

Picture of the Cast Model I use in this video :

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About me (bio) :
Website :

I am an artist living and working in France. I learned the techniques of the Atelier of the Nineteenth century and now I try to share some of my knowledge with the rest of the world, because I think that beauty still has an important role to play in artistic creation. I do mostly drawing and oil painting, and my goal is always to provide techniques, thoughts and explanations that can be useful to anyone, from beginners to more advanced artists.

The material I use most of the time (not necessarily in this video) :

Drawing
Equipement
✓ Kneaded eraser
✓ Plumb line
✓ Small mirror
✓ An old synthetic brush
✓ Masking tape
✓ Cutter
✓ Sandpaper or sanding block
✓ Mahlstick or Hand rest (DIY)
✓ Level ruler
Graphite
✓ Pencils 2H, HB and 2B
Charcoal
✓ If available: Nitram charcoals (H, HB and B)
✓ Square charcoals
✓ Natural charcoal box
Black and white chalk
✓ Sketch pencil Conté white
✓ Square Conté noir : HB and 2B
✓ Chalk or pencil holder
✓ Pencil sketch Conté Pierre noire : H and HB
Sanguine
✓ Sketch pencil Conté : Blood and blood Medici
✓ Crayon Polychromos Faber-Castel : sanguine
✓ Sketch pencil Conté white
Oil painting
Palette
(Extra-fine paint, recommended brands depending on availability: Lefranc Bourgeois, Winsor and Newton, Royal Talens Rembrandt)
✓ Titanium white PW6
✓ Yellow ochre PY42
✓ Burnt Sienna PR101 or PBr7
✓ Venetian red or English red PR101
✓ Permanent Alizarin crimson (Attention: do not use the traditional pigment, which is not very light-fast) PV19 or PR177 or Quinacridone Rose PV19
✓ Cobalt teal blue PG50
✓ French ultramarine blue PB29
✓ Raw umber PBr7
✓ Burnt umber PBr7
✓ Ivory Black PBk9
Brushes
✓ About ten filbert hog bristle brushes sizes n° 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12
✓ Some flat brushes
✓ Round sable brush or round Kolinsky sable n° 4, 8, 10, 12 (from the size of the nail (about one inch) or synthetic imitation
Medium
✓ Linseed stand oil
✓ Odourless mineral spirits
✓ Safflower oil
Surface
✓ Linen canvas, fine grain universal coating
✓ For studies : Canson oil-acrylic oil paper Figueras
Others
✓ Palette
✓ Foam and spalter brushes
✓ Palette knife in the shape of a water drop, no souldering
✓ A few small pots, containers, jars...
✓ Paper towels

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#atelier #painting #tutorial
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Thanks for watching !

[madalynnewton]

I'm such a blender. Great teaching, I didn't do it very well but I'll keep at it and listen to you again.

[oul]

this exercise is actually one of the few exercises that really transitioned me to painting, , in fact whenever i feel burn out or the dreaded art block, i usually resort to this exercise along with negative space exercise and blind drawing to get my momentum back. these exercises REALLY trains your eyes to /see/ 😅 (AND you can even do them as quick as 5 minutes!)

[JohnnyArtPavlou]

One of the best painting lessons I’ve ever seen.

[wifsk]

It might not have been long for most people out there but in the 10/15 years ive been drawing/artsy stuff i never thought of painting like sculpting and now that im thinking about it i cant actually wait to aply it tomorrow first thing when i wake up

[JackDespero]

Fantastic exercise.
Also I find it funny that even when you try to "fail", you still get something that looks good for the untrained eye.

[Jssu]

Excellent video and exercise. There's something so satisfying and empowering about techniques like these. I can't wait to internalize this process

[lordlem]

What an excellent video!! I have understood the concept intellectually (shapes of light and dark creating form) and tried to apply it in my painting, but I've never taken this approach. I actually use the posterize filter on photoshop as an aid to see the shapes, but I've never done an exercise applying paint that way. Definitely going to do this!! Makes so much sense!! I'm struggling with an oil portrait now (definitely value soup). I'm going to try this exercise with it. Thank you again for the 'ah-ha' moment!!

[everettehungerford]

I'm getting back into painting and I needed to watch this. Thank you so much for all of your thoughtful content!

[idkjustleavemebeplease]

I clicked because your hoodie made you look like an astronaut, I stayed because your calm voice and clear concise explanation.
Thank you, good sir.

[mohrkatja]

Thank you for sharing your art to do art..
It helps me so much ..so very well done
👍🙏🏽🦋

[sallyfinch]

Blurring my eyes on your final result looks perfect! Amazing!

[pauls]

Brilliant brilliant brilliant that's all I can say thankyou so much for this info brilliant I'm subscribing

[VAPIDISM]

Very helpful and well explained, thank you.

[bodawei]

Great exercise, very useful. Merci et a bientot dans une prochaine video!

[sydene]

this is very helpful, thank you so much

[NiinaSKlove]

- Interesting! ‘Blending happens when the structure of the value masses are established.’ Reminds me of my old vocal coach/singing teacher.

- She gave me similar advice when I started working with her. She said: ‘When you master the basics of singing, the structure, you’re free to play around with different techniques, and also you’ll be a more confident singer once you master the fundamentals of singing. - Only then could I blend different sounds, using my singing voice in a more personal way. You’ll have a solid fundament to stand on. 😊

[el]

I'd love to see the effect that would accure if you were to just blend the three-vlaue stage. Great video as always!!!

[brendadevlin]

Very helpful, well explained and demonstrated. Thank you. Off now to try the exercise.

[gideonscheepers]

Stunning!! Thank you so much! This was a major help!! Now to attempt one for myself :D

[auroracontreras]

I'll try to apply these knowledge in my digital painting