When looking at concept art, you often see it's in black and white (or greyscale!). Why is that? There are a load of benefits to developing your illustration in value before you actually lay down the color. And really, limiting yourself can help to crystalize things on a whole new level! Plus it's a great way to go about changing your color scheme later on, if something doesn't pan out. For this demo, I am showing you how I used this process in one of my own paintings, Aquarius! Join me as I discuss the pros and cons to painting in value and greyscale.

There are many benefits to painting with greyscale. There are downsides, too. Know the positives and negatives of the method so that you can make the educated decision on choosing a path for your own piece. Start color? Start with value? You decide! Let me tell you why you might be swayed one way or the other.

It’s also good to note that this method gives you the opportunity to change a lot of things when you get to the colour stage, and maybe you go with an entirely different colour scheme once you get there… but it also requires you to have a clear idea where you are going because this is all about ‘planning’!

limiting yourself can help to crystalize things on a whole new level

I’m not the fastest artist in the world. But this piece above took me one day. One day to grab my references, take the photos I needed, sketch it, render it, and color it. I had a rough idea from the week before, but it was an idea — not a plan. So really, doing all of this in one day was extremely fast for me and that is precisely because I was organized and I attacked it with a very meticulous process. Greyscale was that process.

Value is the most important thing in ANY painting. Colour is also important, but it is value that gives light to our color and lets it shine. Value is the unsung hero that makes every single piece the masterpiece (or disaster) that it is. With value we can sculpt out forms, our silhouettes, our highlights, our shadows. Value is invaluable. And yes, I do love the dad jokes.

Take care, guys!

Lothlenan : Art of Andrea Tamme