I remember when I was an art student—young and full of enthusiasm—thinking that painting was simply about applying oil paint to the canvas. That was it. I had learned to paint, but not to plan. It took me much longer to understand the importance of observation—not just a quick glance, but truly seeing and carefully planning how to start a painting.
After years of painting, here’s the observation process I’ve developed:
1. Analyzing contrastand values First, I focus on contrast—where the darkest areas are most intense and where the lightest ones appear. I also assess the proportion of space occupied by each of these zones. This helps me decide whether I’ll need more dark or light colors on my palette. If the darks are very deep, I remind myself to avoid overusing white, which could lead to milky tones. If the painting has mostly light colors, I take care not to muddy them.
Pro Tip from the Masters:
Degas kept a “value finder”—a card with small holes to isolate tones
Sorolla worked on toned canvases to establish midtone harmony immediately
Sargent would squint intensely to simplify values before painting
2. Selecting colors Next, I identify the strength and purity of the colors, as well as the presence of grays. This helps me choose which colors to place on my palette. I typically work with a range of 10 colors, I have more than 30 colors including three shades of yellow, five reds, four blues, four greens, three oranges, and four violets, among others. Since I can’t place them all on my palette, I carefully select the ones that best match the subject in front of me.
Historical Insight: Vermeer’s limited palette (just 7 pigments!) created his signature harmony. His use of natural ultramarine (more expensive than gold at the time) shows how strategic color investment pays off.
3. Evaluating temperature Finally, I assess the contrast between light and shadow, this time paying attention to color temperature. I observe whether the light is warm or cool and whether the contrast is strong or subtle. I also analyze warm, cool, and neutral colors—especially the neutrals, as they are the trickiest to identify. I take special care when mixing grays to ensure they remain balanced and harmonious.
Reflected light (As taught by Richard Schmid, shadows contain their light source’s complement)
Neutral orchestration (Sargent’s “mud” was actually carefully balanced grays)
Bonus: Old Masters’ Preparation Secrets
Rubens’ Sketch System: Created small oil sketches (modelli) to plan compositions
Velázquez’s Ground Layers: Built complex undertones with colored imprimatura
Turner’s Notebooks: Filled 300 sketchbooks with light observations before painting
Why This Process Matters As art historian Ernst Gombrich noted, “The artist learns not to copy, but to see.” This analytical approach channels your creativity effectively.
Creating a compelling portrait is one of the most rewarding challenges an artist can undertake. But what separates a flat, lifeless portrait from one that feels alive and three-dimensional? The answer lies in understanding and mastering values. Values—the lightness or darkness of a color—are the backbone of any successful painting. They define the structure of the face, create depth, and bring realism to your work. Even if your colors are vibrant and accurate, a portrait with poorly executed values will lack impact.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the importance of values in portrait painting. We’ll explore what values are, why they matter, and how to use them effectively to create stunning, realistic portraits. Plus, don’t forget to watch the accompanying video demo, where I’ll walk you through the entire process of painting a portrait with a strong focus on values. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this guide will help you elevate your portrait painting skills.
What Are Values, and Why Are They So Important?
Values refer to how light or dark a color is, regardless of its hue. In portrait painting, values are essential because they define the form and structure of the face. Here’s why they matter:
They Create Depth and Dimension: Values help distinguish between the planes of the face, making it look three-dimensional. Without proper values, a portrait can appear flat and lifeless.
They Establish Contrast: The interplay of light and shadow adds drama and interest to your painting. Strong contrasts can make your portrait more dynamic and engaging.
They Guide the Viewer’s Eye: Well-defined value patterns can direct attention to the focal points of your portrait, such as the eyes or mouth.
They Simplify Complexity: By breaking down the face into light and dark shapes, values help you simplify complex features and focus on the big picture.
In the video demo, I’ll show you how to use values to transform a flat sketch into a realistic, three-dimensional portrait.
How to See and Understand Values
Training your eye to see values is a skill that takes practice, but it’s absolutely essential for creating realistic portraits. Here are some tips to help you develop this skill:
Squint Your Eyes: Squinting simplifies the image, allowing you to see the major light and dark shapes without getting distracted by details. This is a great way to identify the overall value structure of a face.
Use a Black-and-White Reference: Converting your reference photo to grayscale removes the distraction of color, making it easier to focus on values. You can also use a grayscale filter on your phone or computer to help with this.
Identify the Light Source: Determine where the light is coming from and how it affects the planes of the face. This will help you understand where the highlights, midtones, and shadows should be.
Practice Value Studies: Spend time drawing or painting portraits using only black, white, and gray. This will help you focus on values without the added complexity of color.
In the video, I’ll demonstrate how I analyze values in a reference photo and translate them into my painting.
The Value Structure of a Portrait
To paint a realistic portrait, it’s helpful to break down the face into a simple value structure. Here’s how I approach it:
Light Areas: These are the parts of the face that catch the most light, such as the forehead, cheekbones, nose, and chin. These areas will have the lightest values in your painting.
Midtones: These are the transitional areas between light and shadow, such as the sides of the face, the lower cheeks, and the area around the mouth. Midtones help create a smooth transition between light and dark.
Shadow Areas: These are the parts of the face that receive little to no light, such as the eye sockets, under the nose, under the chin, and the sides of the neck. These areas will have the darkest values in your painting.
By simplifying the face into these three value groups, you can create a strong foundation for your portrait. Once the basic value structure is in place, you can refine the details and add subtle shifts in value to create a more realistic effect.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced artists can struggle with values from time to time. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for:
Overcomplicating Values: Beginners often try to include too many subtle shifts in value, which can make the painting look muddy and overworked. Start with broad value shapes and refine later.
Ignoring the Light Source: Inconsistent lighting can make your portrait look unnatural. Always keep the light source in mind and ensure that your highlights and shadows are consistent.
Relying Too Much on Color: Color can be deceptive. A vibrant color might still be dark in value, so always check your values independently of color.
Neglecting Edges: The transition between light and shadow (also known as the edge) is just as important as the values themselves. Soft edges create a sense of realism, while hard edges can add drama and focus.
In the video demo, I’ll show you how to avoid these mistakes and create a balanced, realistic portrait.
Watch the Video Demo!
In the video, I’ll walk you through the entire process of painting a portrait with a strong focus on values. You’ll see how I:
Analyze the reference photo for value patterns.
Block in the major light and shadow areas.
Refine the values to create a realistic, three-dimensional effect.
Add subtle details and transitions to bring the portrait to life.
This demo is perfect for artists of all levels who want to improve their understanding of values and take their portrait painting to the next level.
Tips for Practicing Values in portrait painting
Do Value Studies: Practice painting or drawing portraits using only black, white, and gray. This will help you focus on values without the distraction of color.
Use a Limited Palette: When working with color, limit your palette to avoid overwhelming yourself. This will help you concentrate on value relationships.
Study Master Paintings: Look at how the Old Masters used values to create depth and realism in their portraits. Pay attention to how they simplified complex forms into light and shadow.
Experiment with Lighting: Try painting the same subject under different lighting conditions to see how it affects the values.
Conclusion
Mastering values is one of the most important skills you can develop as an artist. It’s the key to creating portraits that feel alive, three-dimensional, and full of depth. By understanding how light interacts with the planes of the face and simplifying complex forms into basic value shapes, you can take your portrait painting to the next level.
I hope this blog post and video demo inspire you to focus on values in your own work. Don’t forget to watch the video to see these concepts in action, and let me know in the comments how you plan to apply these tips to your next portrait!
