How to Paint Values in Watercolors

Using a wide range of values will give your painting depth and create a well-balanced and interesting painting.

Once you’ve mapped out the values with a value sketch, it’s time to get painting. Since using a wide range of values will give your painting depth, it’s incredibly important that you take the time to master this skill. With enough practice, you can choose your colors to create those values that will add the depth needed for a quality painting.

Key Takeaways

Values refer to how light or how dark your paint is and is caused in part by the amount of water added to the paint.
Values are classified on a scale between 1 to 10.
Mastering the art of creating values in watercolor takes time and practice.

What are watercolor values?

Value refers to how light or dark a color is - from white to black. If we put values on a scale of 1 to 10, it would look like this:

● 1-3: light

● 3-7: mid-tone

● 8-10: dark

With watercolors, the amount of water added to the paint determines the value of the color. The more water you add, the lighter the value will be. If you add less water, your value will be darker. In other words, the thinner your paint is, the lighter in color it is. The thicker it is, the darker.

If you’re able to master creating values with watercolor, you can create ultra-realistic paintings. John A. Fraser, a watercolor and oil painter, is a great example. He’s known for the photographic realness of his paintings. He achieved this reputation in part because of his ability to observe “transient effects of light” and how that affects a landscape. In other words, he understood how light created value.

Create values with watercolor

Start with your value sketch and adjust the original sketch as needed. If you want to play with the space or the format, it’s important that you nail this down before you paint. If you don’t feel confident about the layout of your sketch, you are setting yourself up for a stressful painting session.

Start adding pigment to your painting by working on the mid-tones. Since mid-tones are in the medium range, you’ll need to add a decent amount of water to your paint. When you’ve diluted the pigment to your desired color, begin applying it to the mid-toned shapes on your sketch.

Next, look at the other places you’ve applied the same mid-tones in your sketch. If you want to use a different color for these areas, consider how much water you added to your first color. Try to mimic the thickness of the paint to get a similar midtone.

You can also mix up the value as you paint one area. For example, if you’re painting the side of a roof, you might fill in half of the roof, then wet your brush to bring in more water. Blend that lighter tone in with the darker mid tone you already have on the paper. This is an excellent way to add interest to your painting while keeping with your values. Your mid-tone colors may be different, but they should all be in the same range of value - somewhere between 3 and 7.

Next, fill in your lights and darks using this same technique. For light values, add much more water. For dark tones, minimize the amount of water used.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the art of watercolor values, like any other watercolor skill, takes time and practice. Set yourself up for success by creating a value sketch. Then, follow the map you’ve set for yourself and play with the amount of water you add to your paints. You’ll soon be on your way to a well-balanced, interesting painting!

Interested in learning more?

Watch this Demo with Arts of Course instructor Jess Rice.

Read "16 simple things to know to begin with watercolors and create successful paintings" by clicking here.

Categories: : Watercolor Techniques, Watercolor tips