Value
the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something
Every waking moment as humans we are constantly making choices based on the importance of what it is we see
Looking out into the world we are taking the vast amount of data,
that is light reflecting off of atoms,
and stripping away all we deem
unimportant
until we are left with something of
VALUE
we are forever fluctuating between things we VALUE
When you are hungry
food
when you are lonely
companionship
poor
wealth
you
get the idea.
YOU ARE DECIDING WHAT IS OF VALUE
The neat thing about us is that we all have a foundational element of value that acts as a point on the horizon that we navigate our path through this life with.
Helping us find what we desire by locating the things of value.
This “foundational element” gives weight to certain parts of the visual data we receive .
A lion only notices the gazelle when it is hungry
An alcoholic only notices alcohol when they are thirsty
Hunger can be satiated where as the thirst is never quenched
Now…
How does this relate to using value when drawing and painting?
the choices we make when looking at the world are done in the subconscious. We are always scanning, eliminating, and acting upon the visual information we receive.
Since our birth we have built up a library of what repels and attracts us
When we are compelled to draw or paint from life it is the underlying
ABSTRACT SHAPES OF VALUE
that we are reacting to
Drawing/painting the world of objects and subjects is the hunger
Drawing/painting the world of abstract shapes is the thirst
The reason such WEIGHT is given to value studies from life is that
THE ABSTRACT SHAPES
of
Light and Dark
ARE
SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE VIEWER’S SUBCONSCIOUS
Before Judgement
EFFECTING A PERSON AT A DEEP AND VISCERAL LEVEL
As Artist’s we must change the Mechanism of Vision from a sub-conscious act to a conscious one
CHOOSING CONSCIOUSLY WHAT WE WISH TO PRESENT TO THE
VIEWER
Creating a realistic black and white image
THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING
IS
the byproduct
of
SEEING
THE ABSTRACT SHAPES
CORRECTLY
Being able to take a three dimensional world and
process all of that information down into a simple
black and white two dimensional statement is true
UNDERSTANDING
IT IS
the beginnings of a visual language
that
COMMUNICATES DIRECTLY
with the
VIEWER
EVERYTHING else is just refining patterns and symbols
Once you have a visual language
COMMUNICATING
your
ARTISTIC VISION
BECOMES POSSIBLE
the greater your understanding of the mechanics of vision
THE CLEARER YOUR VOICE
unless you put the time in on the first stage, developing your visual language, you will be handcuffed by symbolism, representation, and the world of objects
Step 1: Observe the world that compels you
Step 2: Study the abstract shapes of value
Step 3: Apply them to the picture plane
OBSERVE STUDY APPLY
