Paint a study of color values by setting up a still life of blocks or single-colored objects lit from the side or back to create cast shadows. As you first begin to paint, do not be too eager to paint complex objects. No matter how many details are added, the strength of the painting is in the value relationships. It is important to compare the values, so start with solid objects that are not shiny or patterned. Shiny surfaces pick up too many reflections. Heavy patterns make it more complicated to determine value changes within those patterns. (1) Begin with a blue line brushed directly onto the canvas. Thin the paint with water so that the line flows easily from the brush as it is pulled. As lines are redrawn and the position of the lines corrected, alizarine crimson (deep red) is mixed into the blue to differentiate lines from the first blue lines. Draw the edges of cast shadows, knowing that these shadows will be included in the finished painting. (2) Block in colors. I don’t think as much about matching colors as I think about the value differences. At this stage I want to get the values correct. (3) With the correct values as a guide, I now look for underlying colors, giving the painting more interest. Yellow and white are mixed into red for the highlight on the red block. Blue is mixed into alizarine crimson to get the shaded area. The walls and cast shadows are repainted with close attention to value as white, blue, and red are mixed into the yellow in different locations. The raw wood on the edges of the blocks is darkened on the shade side and lightened where light shines onto it. The edge of the cardboard box is added.
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