VALUE: Emphasizing light

David

Dylan

Last Wednesday the class made drawings emphasizing the light patterns over volume by employing a single directional hatch or scribble technique. David has created a very dynamic composition with rich values and energetic marks that sweep across the space and around the forms. The location of similar values throughout the image establishes a rhythm that keeps the "eye" moving.
Dylan's drawing exhibits a very strong sense of light and mood. The transitions in value are very controlled as is the hatching. The limited value range has created a very unified and warm environment.

VALUE: Rendering Light

Jessica Baumann

Savannah Church

We've discussed in class how an artist may emphasize light over volume but can't have one without the other. This is due to the fact that light patterns or values are located where they are because of the structure or volume of an object. By applying marks that ignore or even contradict the cross-contours of an object emphasis is placed on the light patterns. The drawings above emphasize the light over volume. Students chose one of two techniques to employ; scribble gesture or a single directional, diagonal hatch. Both drawings have used dark values in the background to contrast against the lighter tonalities within the objects. In addition, take special note of the manner in which gradations are applied to the forms addressing the subtlety of volume.

VALUE: Local Value and Rendering Light

Kyle Sullivan

Friday morning began with studies made from two white objects rendered in graphite pencil. In the upper left hand corner students drew value scales of six tones. Kyle's drawing illustrates the design qualities achieved with more than one light source realized in the multiple cast shadows. This would normally reveal artificial lighting but Kyle has transformed the table top into a barren, surreal landscape suggesting the presence of two suns.

Patricia Baskerville

After the lunch break, students made drawings emphasizing Light by employing a single, directional hatch or scribble gesture. Patricia's drawing is rich and varied with its swirling, frantic web of lines. The dark mass in the background is reminiscent of a foreboding storm moving inward. Notice how she has reenforced the negative areas between objects creating dark passages for the "eye" to wander and move through.

VALUE: Rendering Light

Brandon O'rourke

Artist's may make work that emphasizes light patterns or volume. When working with a technique that is uncomplementary to the planar structure of an object (ex. straight cross-contours on a round form), the light is emphasized over volume. Placement of tonalities is determined by the planes of an object so you can't have light without volume but you can place emphasis on one over the other.
Last night students made drawing emphasizing Light. Brandon's drawing above illustrates a single, parallel hatch technique. Notice how he has juxtaposed a dark, receding background against lighter, advancing objects. The dark background also balances the darks of the cast shadows. Although the objects reveal subtle volumes, the single hatch technique is more complementary to the light patterns than it is to volume because of the straightness of the line against a curvilinear form.

THURS. 3/1 VALUE: Light Patterns

Amy Eldridge

Frank Vallin

Here are two drawings emphasizing Light Patterns rather than Volume. Amy has employed the scribble technique. The heavy swirling lines create a high contrast, tangled sense of weight unifying the objects and the space. Frank has used a single, directional hatch. His drawing exhibits a softer more atmospheric rendering of light.

WED. 2/29 VALUE: Light vs. Volume

Alisha Ascencio

Alicia Godwin

Rather than using value to make something appear three dimensional and volumetric, artists can place emphasis on Light Patterns. When artists emphasis light, there is a more subtle sense of volume. Alisha's drawing at the top employs a single, directional, hatch to rendering the light patterns. The hatch technique contradicts the cross-contours subordinating volume. Alicia's drawing on the bottom illustrates the scribble technique. Both drawings exhibit a more expressive and energized rendering of the still life not seen in the previous class drawings.

10/13 Midterm Critique

Students finished midterm drawings and then we critiqued their work. The drawing above by Jeanne Buckens is an excellent example of the work that was created during the midterm assignment.  Elements to take note of are the asymmetrical composition and the division of the negative space in the background and the beautiful rendering of the categories of light as well as the other gradations from light to dark located throughout the drawing.  And lastly, the overall working of the entire surface.  By selectively leaving small areas white, Jeanne is able to develop a warm and thorough rendering of the local values found on the various surfaces and objects.

Next week we begin with Ink Drawings.

9/22 Value: Emphasizing Light

On Wednesday, the class made value studies emphasizing Light Patterns rather than volume.  In order to emphasize the Light, students used a single directional hatch technique or scribble technique.  The goal was to develop the image through tonal variations rather than line. Drawings by Jeanne Buckens, Leah Erickson, Travis Gilbert and Trevor Finley.