These videos demonstrate charcoal value studies created as part of my portrait workshop series. Always do these first!  They help simplify the subject and clearly establish the major light and shadow shapes before beginning the watercolor painting.

Experienced artists often begin with a value study because value—not color!—is what creates structure, form, and visual impact in a painting. By reducing the image to a limited range of lights and darks, artists can quickly test composition, strengthen the design, and avoid problems later in the painting process.