Value First, Color Second
Seeing, Simplifying & Building Stronger Paintings
Understanding value—the lightness and darkness of shapes—is one of the most important tools in painting. When the values work, color has room to shine.
In this three-day, hands-on workshop, we’ll slow down and really see value first, then explore how it can help you make stronger, more intentional color choices. Through demonstrations, exercises, individual guidance, and plenty of painting time, you’ll put these ideas directly into practice.
What We'll Explore
Day 1
Value, Color & Painted Papers
We’ll begin with value—learning to simplify what we see into clear light, middle, and dark shapes. Then we’ll explore a limited color palette, mixing a broad range of colors and values and using them to create painted collage papers for the days ahead.
Day 2
Composition, Collage & Cropping
With our painted papers ready, we’ll put value into practice through quick collage studies. You’ll experiment with composition, move shapes around, and use cropping to discover stronger designs. We’ll also explore how color can change while the underlying value structure stays strong.
Day 3
Developing Your Painting
Day 3 gives you time to take what you’ve discovered and develop it into a larger, more resolved piece. You’ll work independently with individual guidance, making decisions about value, color, composition, and collage as your painting develops.
Most importantly, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of value strengthens a painting, more confidence working with color, and a stronger process for taking an initial idea and developing it into a more resolved painting.