Elements of Art - Value: Elements of Art

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The elements of art are line, shape, form, space, value, color, and texture. This page is about the element value. Value may be described as the range of dark to light. It is important to note that although we often show light as a gray-scale or as gray-tones from black to white, all color has value and may be expressed as a relative light or shade. A good way to demonstrate this is by showing a color photograph made into a black and white photograph. Value is a powerful art element, value is light. If there is no light we see nothing. It is the difference or contrast between light and dark that permits us to see form and make spacial relationship judgements.

This is a value scale used by artists to measure value range.

Here is a pencil drawing that show how we use value to create form.

Here is a color photograph changed into a black and white photo, and then the photo is cropped and curves is used to enhance or increase the value range.