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About instructor
Founder of Proko, artist and teacher of drawing, painting, and anatomy. I try to make my lessons fun and ultra packed with information.
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project-value-composition-thumbnails.mp4
224 MB
project-value-composition-thumbnails-transcript-english.txt
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project-value-composition-thumbnails-transcript-spanish.txt
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project-value-composition-thumbnails-captions-english.srt
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project-value-composition-thumbnails-captions-spanish.srt
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ASSIGNMENTS![]()
![Nancy Larson]()
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![David D]()
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![Sean G]()
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![@androida]()
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![@aakerhus]()
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![Eiko Fazio]()
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![@justjen]()
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![Rachel Dawn Owens]()
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![Eiko Fazio]()
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![@justjen]()
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![@aakerhus]()
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![Andy Palmo]()
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![@doodleibu]()
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![@alexate]()
Level 1
Let's practice what we've learned about value composition by creating exploring several thumbnail sketches from the provided reference photos. Simplify each image into just three values in small thumbnails (between the size of your thumbnail and palm). Create at least five variations for each photo.
Some tips:
- Keep It Simple: Start small, capture the main big shapes and avoid adding details. If you overcomplicate, try again and simplify.
- Explore Multiple Ideas: Experiment by modifying value groupings and rearranging value shapes. Don't settle on your first idea. Often, initial concepts aren't the best.
- Ask "What If?": Experiment with backgrounds, clothing values, and cropping. You have the freedom to adjust these elements.
You can use pencils or markers. Choose whichever tool you're comfortable with, or try both for their unique benefits.
Pencils
- Use a dull pencil to draw larger value masses and avoid details.
- Pencils allow erasing and adjusting shapes and values.
Markers
- Markers are faster allowing you to do more quick variations.
- Markers provide predefined values for easy value separation.
- They encourage simplification due to their thick tips.
Level 2
After warming up with the first photos, move on to the Level 2 images. These are more complex and offer more exploration and room for error.
After several iterations, select a favorite thumbnail to refine. Create a slightly larger sketch with a little more details and up to five values.
Remember:
- Prioritize Simplicity and Clarity: Don't worry about perfect proportions or details.
- Focus on Values: Make deliberate decisions about value groups and execute them confidently.
- Guide the Viewer: Simplify, control your value range, and create a clear hierarchy.
Deadline - submit by Jan 31, 2025 for a chance to be in the critique video!
For sure, this is neat methodology for experimenting with values in a composition; a method to be used in the future. Watching demos after or before embarking on an assignment is something I have changed during this course from assignment to assignment. In this case, I chose to watch the demo after doing each set of the level 1 pics. Not sure that is the better way but as I watch the demo with my images before me, I do learn from my mistakes or weaknesses. I still need to watch the critique and that will further emphasize learning I am guessing. Good to learn, good to practice.
Two observations of my value compositions:
1. I feel lost. I don’t know what makes a good composition versus a poor one. Does it come down to efficacy? In other words: a good composition guides the eye to where the artist wants it to go? Some of these felt like the achieved that, some were less effective… I’m not sure any of them are “good”
2. looking at the recent submissions… damn guys… how are you so good at capturing proportion and likeness on such a small scale?!? Trying to put in the shadow for the eye socket with a blunt 6B yielded a lot of cartoon looking faces haha
Saw many ways to approach this! After digesting information from Stan and others previous homework submissions, that helped guide me in the right direction to flow and find interesting value arrangements.
Both levels. All in all I could've explored more different value distributions, I probably got locked into the photos for a bit too long.
I think I liked the first picture of level 2 the most to play with because there were many levels to mess with and because one source of light was directly in the image. Low key drawings feel more difficult to do... maybe because I'm looking at them in small space with large swaths of white paper around the image which flattens the already small difference between the two dark values even more.
I didn't catch a "vibe" with this reference as much as I did with the first portrait, so I just played around until I found a composition I found easy on the eye I guess, I think I'm liking number 5 the most.
I tried another attempt - this time, I did level 2 as well. Using 5 values got extremely complicated and I ended up settling with 3 values again. Using pencils ( I don't have markers ) is not easy to distinguish values. It was definitely a challening project
Here's my second set of sketches. (because of how I sketched them in different directions, I have included 3 copies of same images, but rotated them to make it easier to see each image)
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1mo
Wow. These are so creative! I love the idea of the sunburst looking one. That’s really cool.
You could simplify these compositions a bit more. Don’t worry so much about all the wrinkles and folds. Pick out a few general shapes maybe, but don’t get stuck on all the individual things.
Hope this demo is helpful-
I tried to work through 2 level 1 images. It's very hard to make them look exciting. I'll see if I can get more creative ideas after the demo
These are my initial sketches. The 2nd one is an abandoned attempt when I realized my concept idea was not going to work. The shape of his face, tilt of his head and some striking facial features inspired my nod to Munch's The Scream. 😱
Since the facial expression had a little bit of a malicious expression to it, I had fun experimenting with some low-key values. Except for number 3 where I tried one where I wanted to come as close as possible to the reference.
Since this is my first time simplifying values, I didn't crop the image, and I liked the aspect ratio as it was for this evil-ish look anyway.
Overall I think I am most satisfied with number 4. I like how half the face is lost to the background, and the fact that the hands actually has the lighest value. The pose of the hand suggests malicious plans, and I like that you aren't quite able to read his facial expression since it's lost to the background, but what you are able to see of the face still has the malicious feel to it.
I am also happy that I successfully able to avoid details, that is a little achievement for me, I tend to get caught up with the details way too easily.
Very fun exercise. Although I forgot about using more than three shades at level 2! Will need to do some more.
I found that, working digitally, it was helpful to crank the brush size up to the largest I could reasonably work with when starting each thumbnail to avoid diving into detail too soon.
Thumbnails for the first image in level 1. I wanted to give digital a shot in absence of markers.
This is an extraordinary exercise, such difference of the image message, just by lighting!
