Value

What is the difference between two dimensional and three dimensional?  

Two dimensional objects are flat like the circle drawn on this sheet of paper.  This circle only has height and width.

Three dimensional objects have height, width, and depth.  The ball sitting on the table is three dimensional.  You can walk all the way around the ball.  It has depth. 

So, look at the photograph of the drawing below.  Is the ball in the drawing two dimensional or three dimensional?

If you said two dimensional you are correct!  The "ball" is still only the circle drawn on paper.  However, I drew shadows (or lights and darks) to create the illusion that the flat circle is actually a three dimensional ball.

Adding lights and darks into a drawing is called adding value.  

Value can be defined as light, dark, and all the grays in between.

Below is an image of a value scale.  Artists use value scales to practice smooth transitions between black and white.

Look at the photograph above.  How do you see value in a world filled with color?

Often when artists capture value, or shadows, in their drawings and paintings, it is like they put on a pair of glasses that allows them to see the world in black, whites, and grays.  

Look at the same photo in black and white.  Do you see all of the values now?

Look at the drawing "Praying Hands" by Albrecht Durer by clicking here.  How has Durer created lights and darks in this drawing?