The contrast of light and dark in a painting, and the relationship between the different shades of color.
Value scale: A range of tones from light to dark that can be used to create contrast and depth in a painting.
Contrast: The difference between light and dark areas in a painting that creates visual interest.
Lighting: The direction and intensity of light in a painting that affects the values and tones used.
Monochromatic painting: Using a single color and its various values to create a painting.
Grisaille: A painting technique that uses gray monochrome to create forms and tones, often used as a base for a later painting.
Color mixing: The process of combining two or more colors to create new hues and values.
Glazing: Applying a layer of transparent color over a dry paint layer to create depth and luminosity.
Underpainting: A technique of laying down an initial layer of color to create a base for the final painting.
Chiaroscuro: A style of painting that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a dramatic effect.
Composition: The arrangement of elements in a painting, including values and tones, to create a pleasing visual experience.
Still life painting: A genre of painting that uses objects arranged on a table or other surface to explore values and tones.
Landscape painting: A genre of painting that uses outdoor scenes to explore values and tones in natural light.
Portrait painting: A genre of painting that explores values and tones in the context of the human form.
Abstraction: Using values and tones to represent forms and shapes in a non-representational way.
Expressionism: Using values and tones to express emotions and feelings in a painting.
Realism: Using values and tones to create a realistic representation of a subject.
Impressionism: Using values and tones to capture the effects of light and color in a fleeting moment.
High Key: Painting with high key values means using predominantly light tones and colours. This technique creates a bright, cheerful and uplifting effect.
Low Key: Using low key values means predominantly using dark tones and colours in the painting. This type of painting creates a somber and moody effect.
Mid-key: This technique involves balancing light and dark tones, creating a sense of harmony and balance in the painting.
Contrast: This technique involves placing dark tones with light ones to create a strong visual impact or drama in a painting.
Warm: Warm tones use colours with red, orange, and yellow undertones that conveys a feeling of warmth, energy, and passion in a painting.
Cool: The cool tones include colours with blue, green and purple undertones that convey calming and soothing effects in paintings.
Muted: Muted tones are created by combining a colour with grey, white, or black, creating colours that are toned down, more restrained and subtle with less visual impact.
Vibrant: Vibrant tones use colours that are saturated and intense, creating a strong visual impact in paintings.