Following a Dream...

Value Relationships in Color

 Color Exploration continues… Have you ever wanted to create a light airy painting like the Impressionists commonly known as a High Key painting or have you wanted to explore creating a dark somber moody painting like the Old Masters’ painting referred to as a Low Key painting?  The information below gives you more or less a “recipe” for helping you stay within the parameters of your choice, making for a successful painting.  Happy Painting!

Value Relationships in Color

Choosing a Key to work in:  Low Key, High Key, Middle Minor Key, or Middle Major Key

Value Scale:  Using a scale of black and white with the Lightest value being white (#1) and the Darkest being black (#10).  Colors can be assigned a value on the gray scale corresponding to its lightness or darkness.  Keeping in mind a color’s value on the value scale will help you create a successful High Key, Low Key, a Middle Minor, or Middle Major Key painting.

Low Key Minor:  Working from a value range of say, 10 - 5

Low Key Major:  Working from say, 10 - 5, but reaching into light for accent.

High Key Minor:  Working from a value range of 5 – 1 (close in value) used by the Impressionists.

High Key Major:  Working from a value 5 - 1, but reaching into dark for accent.

Middle Key Minor:  Working in a close range from around 7 – 3

Middle Key Major:  Working with a full range of values.

Professionals usually work in the first four or all choices with the full range being the most difficult to control.