Build a five-step value scale
See this course’s project requirements
A pencil or digital three-object still life with measured proportions, negative-space checks, a five-value scale and a before/after correction.
Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.
What to include
- Produce a three-object block-in and final line/value drawing.
- Record a reference unit and at least two proportion comparisons.
- Check negative spaces with identified edges.
- Include five distinguishable values and a stated light direction.
- Show one before/after correction and an intentional-style note if needed.
Review and revise
Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.
- Observation: large shapes and relative dimensions follow the chosen reference.
- Placement: identified gaps/overlaps are coherent.
- Value: marks support the stated light/form model.
- Revision: one specific correction has independent evidence.
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The idea in everyday life
Use five boxes from paper white to your darkest repeatable mark. Increase pencil pressure gradually or add closer/more hatching layers. Avoid pressing so hard that later corrections become impossible. Your five steps need visible separation; their numeric labels are an exercise convention, not standardized brightness readings.
Value describes lightness, not the name of a color.
Build a five-step value scale — worked practice
Value describes lightness, not the name of a color.
Original scale convention: 1=paper/lightest; 2=light hatch; 3=medium; 4=dense; 5=darkest. Cup highlight receives 1–2, lit side 2–3 and shadow side 4. The ball’s darkest small region is 5 near its lower-right edge. A blue and a red can have the same value; hue names alone do not decide which is darker.
1. 4.1 Build
Draw five equal boxes and label 1 through 5. Leave 1 mostly paper; build successive levels through pressure or hatch density.
You should see: Five labeled levels are distinguishable.
2. 4.2 Build
Compare neighboring boxes. If 2 and 3 look identical, adjust a repeatable mark until their separation is visible at your working size.
You should see: Neighboring steps are adjusted intentionally.
3. 4.3 Build
Map the supplied cup/ball regions to scale labels before shading. Keep this value plan independent from decorative color choices.
You should see: Highlights are lighter than shadow regions.
4. 4.4 Build
Make a second scale using only line spacing, then compare the same middle value achieved by different marks. Record the method that remains most controllable for you.
You should see: Different techniques can reach similar relative value.
What to finish
A five-value scale and annotated object value plan.
Watch for this
Using color names as brightness values or making every region equally dark.
How can I tell I understand it?
You can deliberately produce and locate five relative values.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
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Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
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Sources and further reading
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Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01
Read descriptions of contour, pressure, hatching and crosshatching; artwork and six-box source activity not reused.
Access: Public page text or PDF was opened and read through the web reader on 2026-10-01; no signup required for reading.
Reuse: Linked for further study. All LifeStarter scenarios, samples, assets and assessments are original; no source exercises or artwork are copied.
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01
Read mark-making and observational still-life guidance; original three-object reference and proportion cases supplied here.
Access: Public page text or PDF was opened and read through the web reader on 2026-10-01; no signup required for reading.
Reuse: Linked for further study. All LifeStarter scenarios, samples, assets and assessments are original; no source exercises or artwork are copied.
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