Value by Burnel Steadman

In the Language Art, Value is the most important of all the Elements. Value pronounced Val.Yoo means the change in light and dark on the surface of an object that appears in a work of art. According to the Alphabet of Art, value is the most important in creating moods. Mystery movies employ strong contrast and generally dark value. While in comedies, less contrast and high values are used. Alphabet of Art further states, Rembrandt is known as the master artist of Value. Using light and dark values to direct his viewers to what he wanted them to see.
John Debes (1968) wrote that in our world today we are influence, taught, and manipulated by all kinds of visual information including television, computers, signs, and symbols, advertisements, body language, and motion picture films.

The photograph shows external light casting a reflection on a wall. The picture depicts contrasting light and dark Value. Although there are other objects in the picture, you are immediately taken to the reflection on the wall. If you look closely, there is a partially exposed computer monitor also depicted in the picture. The reflection appears to be self-producing and glows. Although the images are in black and white, it started out as color. Reducing Hue and Saturation provided the effects.
	Looking down this corridor your eyes are immediately drawn to the window. Notice the interesting use of light and dark Value showing the blue and green colors on the floor. The presence of the radiator by the window indicates the environment is northern. The picture was taken in Queens New York.
Noticed the light appears in the front of the object creating and interesting interplay of contrast in Value. This a peppermint plant with blossoms. The leaves of the mint plant overlap creating a three dimensional effect to the image. See how various shades of green interplay giving texture to each leaf.
	The contrasting dark and light colors provide life to the picture. Movement is created by the relationship between the different colors. Brilliant colors flows into softer tones.
As clouds gather above causing overcast skies, the horizon is clear and sunny. The light blue skies, and dark green earth, depict light and dark Value. The contrasting sky and earth, light and dark, and relationships between both cause the eyes to focused where it was intended; the horizon.

Examples of topic in online museum:

1. Name of piece of art: Gelatin Silver Paint
Artist: Harry Callahan
Museum: The Museum of Modern Art
URL: http://www.moma.org/collection/depts/photography/blowups/photo_019.html

I choose this photograph as a representative of my topic due to its simplicity. It is a black and white photograph, which symbolizes light and dark values.

2. Name of piece of art: The Entombment of Atala
Artist: Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson
Museum: Louvre
URL: http://www.louvre.fr/Louvrea.htm

The painting causes onlookers to focus not only on the light shining through
An open space, but the burial of a young girl. The rays of light

Bibliography

1. Debes, J. L. (1968). Some foundations for visual literacy. Audiovisual Instruction, 13, 961-964.

2. Rieber, L. P. (1994). Computers, graphics, and learning (pp. 1-23). Madison, WI: Brown & Benchmark.

3. The Alphabet of Art [on-line], available http://www.guidancecom.com/alphabet/