NStewartStudio.com
Value
and Color Studies
by N. Stewart
The following are portrait
color studies and value
studies. Color studies are quick portraits done in a single
session that can stand alone as a portrait or are used as a basis for a
studio painting. They are especially important when most of the
painting will be based on reference photographs. Color studies
record more accurate colors and can eliminate photographic
distortions. Value studies are monochrome studies (usually with a
combination of black and white pigments) that can also stand alone or
help the artist correct values (light to dark) in a color version of
the painting.
Click on any painting
to enlarge it.
The value studies shown are from photographs, as an exercise to improve
the values on the final portraits. The life session color studies
above the value studies, each took about
5 hours (with breaks) to complete. The individuals were models or
fellow artists comfortable at sitting for long periods. The color
studies below are for the painting Horse and Dragon, The Carousel Carvers
(see home
page). Because it was a group portrait, I had each man sit for me
after I chose the main composition based on reference photos.
Because the setting was outdoors and shadows from the sun change
dramatically over time, I prepared each canvas with a simple line
drawing before the sitting so I could work quickly. Each sitting
was an hour or less. Most of my portraits are indoors, I usually
ask for a 3 hour block of time which includes finding a suitable pose,
setting up and a sitting. Clients find that the time passes very
quickly.
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