How to to make a value stick

As we said in class, this is an excellent multifunctional tool: use it to find horizontals (or how far off any given contour is from being horizontal) to match a value from your observed subject with the value you will be applying to your picture, or (hopefully in rare cases) self defense.  

This requires some thinking- so use you head, and trust your eye.

1. After priming your value stick with gesso, mark off 9 equal areas, and paint the three farthest from the handle black (value 9). 

2. Next, find value 5- the perfect middle value between black and white. This is the most difficult step. 

Here's a tip for making it easier to find the correct value: mix a value that looks like it is the perfect middle value between value 9 and value 1- lay it in the 4th square, let it dry. Now cover the white end of the stick with your hand so that you can just see the value 5 and the value 9. OK, now switch- cover the value 9, so that you can see only the value 5 and the white. Does the jump in value seem to be the same from value 1 to value 5 and from value 5 to value 9? 

In other words, is the level of darkness between value 1 and value 5 the same level of darkness between value 5 and value 9? 

Here it is put another way- for those of you who like analogies- It should be that value 1 is to value 5 as value 5 is to value 9.

Get it right- everything else hinges on this step! 

Also- most of you said that you will be using acrylic paint for this exercise- make sure you let it fully dry before trying to see if its the right value. Acrylic paint dries about one value darker than it is when its straight out of the tube. 

3. Easy step- once you've mixed that value 5, simply spread it across two more squares toward the handle. 

4. This step is a bit more difficult- we are going to get value 3 and value 7. Use the same method that you used to get value 5- find the perfect middle value between values 1 and 5. Find the perfect middle value between values 5 and 9. 

You see- little by little we are breaking this field of dark and light down to smaller and smaller parts of the whole. Divide and conquer! 

5. Easy- just spread value 3 towards the handle two squares and value 7 towards the top two squares. 

6. OK- this is it- we're following the same format- just going to divide our areas one final time. 

Make value 2- mix the value that is lighter than value 3, but darker than value 1. 

Make value 4- mix the value that is lighter than value 5, but darker than value 3.

Make value 6- mix the value that is lighter than value 7, but darker than value 5.

Make value 8- mix the value that is lighter than value 9, but darker than value 7. 

Here's what I'm looking for when I go to judge the success of your value stick: 

• It's done. 
• It's neat. 
• Squares are all the same size. 
• Straight edges and squares fully filled in. (there should be NO LINES between your values. We want to see one value shape next to another value shape. That's the only real way to judge value. Think about it- a line is actually just a really skinny value shape).
• Paint is fully mixed- no streaks of black or white. And lay the paint down opaquely- shouldn't see any of the white of the stick coming through. 

Take the time to make it PERFECT. If you don't make it perfect, it will be a complete waste of time. If you do make it perfect it will be a tool that you'll use for years to come.