Value Scales & Gradations
October 2015
14” H X 17” W
Black, white, yellow, red, blue, and green acrylic paint, and bristol board

The purpose of the assignment was to understand the inherent components of color by exploring the mixing of colors. Four sequences of value scales and three sequences of gradations were created. Each sequence needed at least five swatches. All of the sequences used black, white, yellow, red, blue, and green acrylic paint. All paints were mixed on a palette by a palette knife and painted onto bristol board.

Sequence 1: A value scale from light to dark in achromatic colors

First, one swatch was painted pure white and another swatch was painted pure black. Then, black and white were gradually mixed together in order to transition from white to gray to black.

Sequence 2: A value scale in yellows from light to dark
Sequence 3: A value scale in reds from light to dark
Sequence 4: A value scale in blues from light to dark

First, one swatch was painted the pure hue and placed in the middle of the sequence. Then, white was mixed into the pure hue to make various tints and black was mixed into the pure hue to make various shades.

Sequence 5: A gradation between two primary hues

First, one swatch was painted pure red and another swatch was painted pure blue. Next, the pure red and pure blue were gradually mixed together in order to transition from a red to red violet to violet to blue violet to blue.

Sequence 6: A gradation between two compliments

First, one swatch was painted pure violet and another swatch was painted pure orange. Next, the pure violet and pure orange were gradually mixed together in order to transition from a violet to red violet to red to red orange to orange.

Sequence 7: A gradation scale between a hue and a gray

First, one swatch was painted pure green and another swatch was painted pure gray. Next, the pure green and gray were gradually mixed together in order to transition from green to gray.