10/09/2026
ART 101 | What Is Value in Art?
When we talk about the value of a painting, we don't always mean the number on the price tag. 😉
In art, value describes how light or dark a colour is—from the deepest shadows to the brightest highlights.
And here's the interesting part: two completely different colours can have a very similar value.
🎨 A bright yellow might be very light in value, while a deep blue might be very dark. Reds, greens, purples, and every colour in between can each range from light to dark depending on how they're used.
So why does value matter?
👁️ It helps create depth and form.
Changes between light and dark can make a flat shape appear three-dimensional, giving form to everything from a bear's face to rocks, trees, clouds, and buildings.
☀️ It creates light and atmosphere.
Highlights and shadows tell our eyes where light is coming from and help establish everything from bright sunshine to a dark, overcast afternoon.
🌲 It can create distance.
Strong differences between light and dark can bring areas forward, while softer value changes can help parts of a landscape recede into the distance.
🎯 It guides your eye.
Artists can use strong value contrast to draw attention to particular areas of a composition—even when the painting itself is filled with colour.
One of the easiest ways to see value is to take the colour away.
Swipe between the original painting and its black-and-white version. Without colour competing for your attention, the underlying pattern of lights, midtones, and darks suddenly becomes much easier to see.
Then swipe back to the colour version.
You might never look at it quite the same way again.
