Value Distribution Study

 Simplified Abstraction, Value Distribution Study, on left: flat shapes, on right: added body tones, body shadows and cast shadows. "Favorite Things" (Joan Kresek, 2011)

Favorite Things, Value Studies. 2011 Joan Kresek
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The next step in the process is to do a simplified Value Distribution Study of the composition.  Decide which shapes fit into the light, middle and dark areas.  This often happens when setting up the still life, but you can decide if objects go to one area or another by squinting when looking at the objects.  This narrows the range of values that you see, for instance, combining a number of middle values.  When you have done several value study thumbnails and found the one that best addresses the principles of design, add the tones that make objects look three-dimensional: highlight or centerlight area, body tone, body shadow, reflected light and cast shadow.