Time Duration: 1 class period

Unit Title: Drawing/Painting

Lesson Topic: Value

Objectives of Lesson

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify and describe value contrast.

2. Create a value chart.

3. Depict the four techniques to show value.

Materials Needed

1. Sketchbook, drawing pencil, and eraser.

2. Value and Drawing Form posters.

3. Charcoal, rulers, newspapers.

4. Simple objects to draw with a light source.

Instructional Procedure with Approximate Time Line

1. Anticipatory Set (5 minutes)

Because value refers to dark and light, value contrasts help us to see and understand a two-dimensional work of art. This type can be read because of the contrast of the dark letters and light paper.

Value contrasts is also evident in colors, which enable us to read shapes in a painting. Some colors (yellow and orange) are light in value; others are dark in value (purple and blue). High key paintings are made mostly of light values and contain a minimum of value contrast. Dark values suggest sadness, depression, loneliness, and sometimes mystery. To make value changes in a color, add white to make it lighter and black to make it darker.

Value changes help us "feel" the shape of an object by showing us how light illuminates these forms and creates shadows on them. The entire object may be the same color but varying amounts of light give it different values.

Remember that value describes form; value creates a focal area or center of interest; and value defines space.

2. Activities (35 minutes)

Activities are to be done on separate sketchbook pages, not back to back.

• Make a "Value Chart" (title) in your sketchbook with charcoal that uses ten values, 1=black and 10=white. Make sure the values go from dark to medium to light smoothly. Each box should have a different value from the boxes on either side. See the poster for an example.

• Divide a sketchbook page into four equal sections. Choose one simple object and draw it four times, one in each section, using contour lines. Label the first section "Line" and use lines (hatching) to show value in your drawing. Label the second section "Crosshatching" and use that technique to show value. Label the third section "Pointilism/Stippling" and the fourth section "Shading" and use those techniques to add value to your drawing. Remember to make your values go smoothly from dark to medium to light. There should be light values and a highlight closest to the light source and the values should be darkest on the side farthest from the light source.

Pointilism/stippling example

Line as value

Crosshatch as value

• Using newspaper, find a black and white photo which shows excellent "Value Contrasts" (title). Glue the photo down. Then, describe (write) how contrasting values are used. Think about the contrast control on your television.

3. Assessment

0 points = Did not finish or cannot find activity. Activity done incorrect or no title.

5 points = Activity done partly correct. Improve and turn in again.

10 points = Activity done correctly. Student demonstrates understanding of concepts.

Lesson taken from Elements and Principles of Design Posters, Teacher’s Guide, by Crystal Productions.