Values

What is value?

What are “values” in art? Simply put, they refer to the spectrum from light to dark.

In reality, our eyes can perceive around 100 different values in a single scene. As artists, our job is to interpret this complex range, simplifying and compressing it into just a handful—typically 2 to 10 values.

Here’s a glimpse at my exercises in studying values, where I worked to distill reality down to its essentials.

This insight taught me a new lesson: Each of us is an artist in our own lives. Reality always needs interpretation, and our perspectives shape our unique versions. What you see through your eyes, and what I see through mine, will always be beautifully different.

Below are my value studies based on 2 famous paintings.

My value study with 5 steps

Original painting

My vaule study with 5 steps

Original photo.

But why? - Seeing values beyond colours

In art, grayscale lets us see the bare bones of a composition. Without the distraction of colors, we’re left with light and dark, and it’s easier to spot how everything balances out.

Here’s one of my paintings where I played with this idea, using just one main color with a bit of light yellow ochre to capture sunlight filtering through the early morning mist. Those little hints of yellow add warmth and a sense of calm, like sunlight quietly breaking through, showing the heart of that quiet moment.

This idea has also found its way into my life. Beneath all the "color" of social status, career, and possessions, there’s a core set of values that really defines who someone is. Those outer layers can be interesting, sure, but I try to look beyond them and ask: Who is this person at their core? What do they really stand for, and do those values align with mine?

Like grayscale in art, it takes time and shared experiences to peel back the layers and see someone’s true values. But doing this has taught me to look past the surface “colors” and see people in a more real, authentic way. Whether it’s in art or life, finding what’s beneath the surface helps me connect with others in a way that feels meaningful and true.

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