How value drawing can help
Why should you spend time on value drawing? If you do such drawings large or full painting size, it will take quite a lot of time, from a few hours to a few days. However, these value drawings will be all reference materials you need. I have added many photos of my very large still life drawings, so that you see what I’m talking about.
Drawing for watercolor
I started to do such large size value drawings because my goal was to eventually create a watercolor painting. As you may know, watercolor paper is very fragile and painting does not look good if there are lots of visible pencil marks or even worse. Erasing damages watercolor paper. I do such drawings on tracing paper. That is because I use a specific drawing transfer technique which allows seeing my final drawing very well without applying graphite pencil too much. It saves me work afterwards and prevents my paper from damage.
Large is great
I make these drawings large, to be more exact, the actual painting size. I usually paint full-sheet 22 x 29 inch ( 56 x 74 cm) watercolors, and sometimes a bit smaller acrylics. The drawings shown in my photos are 22 x 29 inches ( 56 x 74 cm) and 20 x 24 inches (46 x 61 cm) .
Value drawing is a guide and a map
All answers to questions which arise during the painting process are in the value drawing. I love painting from real things as opposed to photos, and if the subject is sensitive, such as flowers, food, fruits, vegetables or moody nature scene, I have to use something which quickly captures the subject. I obviously cannot get done a large painting within a few hours. Therefore, instead of taking photos, I do value drawings and sometimes value sketches.
Camera doesn’t replace visual perception
Partially, I don’t rely on photos since I got my first camera not that long ago and I was very much used to draw everything what other people were taking pictures of. The other aspect to that is the way any camera distorts the subject or view. My eyes perceive it much better than any camera would, and I create a composition on a fly.
Photographic visual memory
I don’t know whether I was born with it or whether I just developed it, but I only found out quite late in my life that I have literary photographic visual memory. I simply did not pay attention to that when I was young.
Advantages of having great visual memory
School was easy for me. I memorized everything extra easy, and I added an analytic approach to memorizing things. I am still able to remember lots of text just by looking at it. That helped me enormously when studying at university. I personally think that my visual memory comes from drawing. I was drawing everything whatever I saw since age I cannot even recall. Parents told me about that. It was a surprise because there were and are no other artists in my family which is actually quite extensive.
Memory can be improved at any age
I do believe and have seen that visual memory can be improved to a great extent. What happens in real life is that people most often don’t use their memory and brain. The more support from devices we have, the less we use our own memory. That is disastrous and leads to early memory loss.
How drawing helps keeping excellent memory
It is obvious that one can have all kinds of reminders and lists on their phone and computer. However, there are people like me who never ever compile a list or use a reminder. I’ve never forgotten any appointment or meeting in my entire life. I never make any lists, neither shopping, nor to-do lists, not even invoicing or student lists. It is all comfortably filed in my head.
The reason I love drawing
I don’t draw to only exercise my memory. I draw and paint also not because of likes or social media comments, followers or any other feedback from fans. I draw and paint because that is my way of life. I live in a visual world where everything is a painting and any view is art. That is the way I see the world and life.
Multiple and various uses of value sketch and value drawing
Having a value sketch or value drawing is of big advantage, not only because you have a perfect reference and guide, but also because you can use this value drawing with any painting media afterwards. You can go ahead and complete it as drawing, pastel painting, transfer to watercolor paper and paint with watercolor, transfer to canvas and paint with acrylics or oils. You can reuse it and flip it, as well. Finally, you can use any part or fragment of value drawing, as well as create a composition which consists of value drawing elements.
It is a preview
It also serves as a sneak peek. It is clearly visible what works well in your composition and what not that much. Therefore, it is possible to correct everything while you transfer the drawing, so, that you do not have to deal with issues during the painting process.
Uniqueness of our drawing style
Drawing is like handwriting, and our personal style is like our handwriting. It carries the specific features of our character, nature and mental abilities. It is possible to describe one’s nature by simply looking at their drawing. It is and it should be unique. Don’t trace photos, it is so much more rewarding to simply look around and see.
You don’t draw because you haven’t tried to do it right
When somebody says: I cannot draw, that actually means they are not interested in seeing the surroundings or the subject. How much one has noticed becomes only visible when we ask that person to draw it. While everybody is under impression that we can see everything, that is not true. You will only start seeing what is around you if you will try to draw it: all shapes and shadows, and relationships between lines.
Whatever we can see, we can draw
It does not necessarily have to be a real thing. You can see and imagine with your internal vision, and that should work as if drawing from reality. You build up the directions for your hand in your brain. If you are not trying to challenge yourself, your hand will create inaccurate and sloppy lines. In order the hand would draw what we are seeing, we pretty much have to become that particular subject in your imagination: the tree, the apple, the blossom and even the bowl, and even more so if you are drawing a figure or face. That is why most artists are quite recognizable from portraits they paint: all of them carry some features of the artist. Confidence is a big deal, too, and we can become confident only by doing.
These are only lines on paper, but what fantastic illusion of an attractive, appealing and impressive reality they create!
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Nice value studies, I too use tracing paper for my good watercolour drawings.
Thanks Shawn! I started to use it because it is transparent and when placed under even the heaviest watercolor paper, light and lines are easily visible. Sometimes I regret, though, that the drawing is too good for just a tracing paper. However, it is possible to publish drawings online, too, and sell as prints. Many people like these prints, I suppose, black and white is impressive, too.
Nice work Inese. Value does make, or break a painting for sure. That’s amazing that you could memorize so much with your photographic memory. My memory must be out of ink or toner 😊
Thanks, Deb! Well, everybody rushes into painting, and they definitely miss the preparation stage. At least I, when I start to go with the brush, I need to know where I put it down. I’d say the time spent on value sketch saves time on painting.
Well, my memory helped and still does a lot.
I’ve done a lot of medical writing and translations, including, patient reports, hospital discharge summaries, new medical device user instructions, all kinds of clinical trials and clinical trial results, patient data analysis, etc. It was usually 100 pages over 4-5 days because deadlines are extremely tight. In that case, I had to be able to recall every tough term within 5 years period approximately or I would need to do a crazy search again. It is not always that new words that exist in English have something which means anything in another language. I can find the text and the term no problem, even if it is one word I created (as for non-existing device parts or substances) or discovered due to long and complex search many years ago.
I’m lucky because my memory is closely tied to visual image, that includes graphic. It is also well organized because I love being very organized.
I was making a normal support for myself while I studied just drawing portraits. I think I started drawing my sister and neighbours when I was 10. You know, kids usually create something quite flat, etc. When I look at these drawings which mom preserved, I can see that there is no difference between how I was drawing then and now.
It was many decades ago, and it was soviet Latvia, so, nobody ever paid any attention, except, competitions for kids and students which I always won. Other than that, my memory helps me always and causes trouble, too, because husband requires lists and I never make them. It helped me learn the 4 languages I am using interchangeably obviously, too.
I believe strictly that working from real objects, challenging the brain and creating art causes new neurons to be born and also synapses become longer. Basically, the brain is well wired and our memory shouldn’t suffer.
Beautiful sketches!
Hope everything is going well for you!
Hugs~
Thanks Robbie! Everything is ok, and it seems I might get to some painting finally after 5 months of disturbances. I need to advertise more, I’m new here, so, nobody knows me yet or that I am giving classes.
I was reading a lot lately in all languages I speak.
November is dark, but paintings and indoor flowers make it look so beautiful inside.
I don’t have covered meds any longer, so, that is a bit painful, some $600 a month. I was in shock.
It’s impossible to find any work, too, because I’m already 60 and my MA degrees are not not automatically recognized in Canada if I want something normal. I haven’t been working since May. Just trying to get something going and that is very and extremely difficult. I hope for better response. Free advertising is very limited, yet, that is all I can currently do.
If I get to some point when something is sold or some class is filled, I’d start participating in shows again. So, maybe in spring, maybe next summer if I manage to get back on feet.
These drawings are done on tracing paper, they are very large, full sheet 29 x 22 inches and 20 x 24 inches. I rarely do pastels or drawings, as well as watercolors of larger size because they need frames, yet, I really love watercolor, pastel and simply drawing. Framing is an issue as long something is big. In that regard, acrylic works better, but acrylic was never my most favorite medium. It is ok to paint with it, and sometimes even more than ok.
Well, I’m also working on articles for lifeschool blog, and that is an absolutely new model of self-awareness and way of living for North America which involves using and training subconsciousness a lot. I wrote a few short articles, didn’t have to publish anything more.
So, how are your things? I believe I left a small comment, but, yes, I’m spending way too much time with doing ads and nothing else. I wish somebody would read something or at least look at something.
I’m glad you are getting back to doing what you love!!
I wish I could have flowers, real or artificial indoors. However, my granddaughter’s cat eats them. She’s crazy, like a goat, she eats ANYTHING-wire, plastic, paper, you name it. Ugh, she drives us crazy and we have to cat proof the house more than we EVER did with a baby, LOL!!
Wow, those drawings are large! My dad always loved pastels, and drew such lifelike pictures. His next favorite was oils, but canvas and paints were sometimes prohibitive.
The classes sound interesting!
Everything is going okay, just really busy. Our granddaughter has a friend from Canada coming to visit over the holidays. It should be a fun time!
Blessings~💖
Thanks! That is why I cannot have pets, not dogs, not cats because I have paintings and flowers everywhere. I used to have pets before, but it is either plants and art or pets. That’s nice, you could stop by. Where is the friend? Canada is huge. Actually just like the States.
These were just value drawings made on tracing paper. I will do something similar on a drawing paper next time.
I am busy, too, good to know you are busy, as well, I just hope to have some sales and classes before Christmas. That would be very important.
Thanks again for stopping by!
I am not sure where in Canada she lives. If I remember, I ask my granddaughter. I know it’s somewhere in, but I also know Ontario is a huge province!
I understand about the pets!
I, too, hope you can get some sales and classes before Christmas.
Blessings~
Robbie💖
Yes, Ontario is large.
I am in Ajax at the moment which is not that far from Toronto.
Yes, I am trying hard to stay in loope, well, not that much success yet, but I have still some time.
Christmas usually puts people more in the mood to spend, so maybe this year they will!
Wouldn’t that be nice? Reading about billions that are spent on gifts, which, to be honest, sometimes make very little sense, I would love people to spend a few bucks at my studio. When I am seeing on some sites things that go as gifts, I have to wonder: is there anybody who likes them? I mean these no-real-use things that just collect dust or go into some drawer because they cannot be applied in any way.
I heard about a Latvian artist whose painting was purchased by a very well-off person for a lot of money, but they had put it in the bathroom, and she felt upset about that. Technically, I do not care about where the art is going because, realistically, I know it has the power to make any place look better and nicer. I wrote before that I was totally surprised how much smaller the gallery room looked once all paintings came off the walls. I was imaging many paintings might make look the space smaller, but it is actually the opposite.
Inese, sorry I took so long to reply.
I know what you mean. So very many gifts are just dust collecters or are tossed aside. Art, on the other hand, can be seen, enjoyed and treasured!
I know you have already had Thanksgiveing-we are celebrating today.
Have a wonderfully blessed day, my friend!
Blessings~
Thanks Robbie! I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you!
Blessings~
Thanks! I’m afraid I will have a lot of work to do now because the main computer with all the files just went down. It looks like I need to buy a new computer, the beeps indicated memory card failure, but it also looks like the frame just fall in, well, it’s been 7 years I was using it. Too bad I did not back up anything between July and now, I mean since I moved. I have no backups for text files, like poems and texts as such. I also do not have backups for any of recent drawings and paintings. Whatever, not a big loss, it’s just the wrong time when I really needed to post pictures to possibly sell something. Nothing new: I never had any money at Christmas, and only once sold 1 painting which is weird. Hard to say, my stuff does not go around. As hard as I try, no sales whatsoever, and I have no pictures now. Oh well, whatever, it is just a sign that I am wrong.
Thank you for clicking like Inese, for some reason I have not been seeing your updates of your posts.. I enjoyed your post about the watercolour supplies and loved your flower art and your drawings here are wonderful,
I trust you are well and you are continuing to heal..
I also hope you enjoyed your Summer and your garden gave you lots to harvest this Autumn..
Wishing you well dear Inese and as Autumn now shows her colours, Happy Painting.. <3
Sue
Thanks Sue!
It is taking me years now to update everything after I moved my blog to the website.
You probably did not know that, but I had to move to another town, and that is what took the most part of summer. The landlord got sick with a terminal disease, so, the news came in May. I spent all June and July packing art (more than 2000 pieces, that was a lot), supplies and personal belongings. Even before unpacking, I had to go to Latvia to help my mom and that is pretty much what I have so far: the moving was very difficult and slow, I just set up a new classroom in October. So, I am starting over again.
It will take some time to get to know people here and for them to find out about me, therefore, it has been quite tough. I also do not know yet how long I am going to be here, maybe only a year, maybe longer. For that reason, I’m not unpacking everything, just the most necessary things.
I have done some advertising, but I certainly need more visibility.
Thanks for stopping by. Maybe you need to follow the website from new again, I am not sure. They sort of changed also things on blogs, I had hard times logging onto my lifeschool blog, took a while.
Anyway, thanks a lot for dropping a message and I was wondering what happened to all previous blogging friends.
I didn’t know that Inese, It must have been a worrying time for you. I will refollow your blog and see if that helps.. I know others are not getting my updates of posts and some are not even seeing my comments.. I don’t know what is happening with WP right now, Others answer my comments yet I have to go to their blogs to see their replies.
At least your reply was visible in my notifications.
Good to have caught up with you again, and hope if I re-follow it may cure the hiccups.. <3
Thanks, Sue!
Yes, it was very difficult, especially because I wasn’t ready or prepared to move anywhere. I had already booked ticket and then just as we dropped all boxes in the other place, I had to fly away for a month. I returned and it was a complete mess. It took about to half October to somewhat settle down.
I am ready now to start with classes and I will see what the response is because I am totally new here.
I could not log in onto my blog, not website, that was fine, but I tried to log in onto blog and I don’t think I ever had a separate password for that.
Well, I do not see many previous friends posts or updates as I look in the reader. It gives me strange choices, so, I basically have to look and search unless somebody has liked my post, then I click back and get onto their site.
That is weird that you have to go to their blogs to see replies.
It is an insanely huge platform. However, I do not like any other ones, I tried them all back in 2011.
Anyway, yes, I will stay in touch.
I think I will have to search for others if I want to find them again.
I hope this move will turn out positive for you Inese.. And I am sure when people see your talent and get to know you All will be for the best.. <3
I hope so, too. It’s just that I have very little presence and visibility in this community yet. It’s normal that it takes time to establish some kind of contacts. I am trying to update tags, categories and much of other things, but it is really time-consuming. It looks like I will miss the Christmas sales part, too. Most people have already started Christmas shopping. I will try to place some ads still, but time is disappearing so fast, that I simply cannot catch up with everything. Plus, I’d need to paint new pieces also, but I have not gotten to that at all. I’m hoping maybe next week.
The disadvantageous part is that husband does not like this place at all because it is really expensive, it comes close to $3000 a month, and if I won’t be getting any students and sales soon, I will have to move next summer again most likely to a more affordable place. Moving is bad, and especially because everything needs to be changed on the website and media, too. I am getting tired, as well, all this extreme work and zero response. In my case, the most wasted time comes from needing to place some ads somewhere every single day. That takes about 5-6 hours a day. I cannot just post something, the look and content has to be appropriate.
Sending my thoughts your way Inese, and hope all things work out for both of you. <3
One way or another, something always works, and it could be definitely better. Thanks, Sue!
Wow! You are such a talent. You inspired me to start drawing. Do you have any tips or recourses I could use to help me start out. PS: I’ve never drawed before.
Well, I’ve been drawing for 50 years. I would advice to never use photos as you start drawing. Tips would take many volumes. The main thing is to learn seeing because most people who do not draw or paint see hardly anything. Start with simple things around you, not portraits or perspective because these require specific knowledge. Always draw large and big, larger than subject in life. Observe the subject 3 times longer than you look at paper on what you are drawing. Let the shapes and lines form in your head first and then put them down on paper. Start with general shapes and forms and move toward details. Don’t use eraser but try to catch the shapes as good as you can. Don’t be disappointed that nothing great happens with the first line. Keep trying until one day you feel that you can recreate what you see. Good luck!
if ou put the drawing in a way you can see that it looks so real
Well, the purpose of creating value drawing is a bit different from simply creating a drawing. Value drawing will be used as reference for a painting, and it will be possible to follow the values as I paint. My goal is also not to paint that much reality as to create impressive art. I’ve sometimes mentioned it: even if it looks representational, I’m not trying to copy reality. There is a difference between the artistic interpretation and copying reality. While I’m not sure what you meant, I believe this referred to the fact that a good drawing can look real.
Thanks!
I wrote this a while ago, there are newer posts, too.
ok, hey i just wanted to let you know that i’m a drawer too you can type my name in the search bar it’s Thenise Dyson
but letting you know im not as good as you are
That’s nice. Thanks!
I was born with a talent to draw, and I have been doing this for 50 years. I can do better than value drawings, but I am also very attracted to color, so, that’s why I paint a lot. I am also loving pastels. I love all mediums: watercolor, pastel and acrylic. I am very sensitive and allergic to oils, cannot do these anymore. As you draw more, you become better and better. The only precondition is not to use photos, but use your eyes and brain.
the colors can be very beautiful
Well, drawing as a base or value drawing are necessary to create a painting in color, especially for complex watercolors, sometimes for floral acrylic paintings. Drawing can be a base for pastel also.