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Color Values & Your Art: The One Thing You Need to Elevate Your Work

Let’s talk values.

No, I’m not talking about integrity, creativity, or honesty. I mean color values in your art. They’re one of the most critical aspects of any art, yet they’re often overlooked or misunderstood. When artists say they’re “stuck” or feel something “off” in their work, it’s often a problem with values — the contrast between light and dark that shapes mood, focus, and depth in a piece.

While it’s tempting to think that colors or concepts define a painting, the real foundation lies in value.

Why color values in art matter

Understanding art values is straightforward, but mastering them is tricky. Anyone can learn to distinguish light colors from dark ones, but getting the balance just right can be challenging.

That’s why, in this episode, I’m diving into what values are and how to use them well. Think of it as your crash course on all things values! We’ll get into topics like:

• How values set the mood in your art
• High contrast vs. low contrast colors
• How to give yourself more room to play by creating your own values

If your art hasn’t been turning out quite right lately, values might be the missing piece. So tune in to this episode, and I’ll show you how to bring your work to the next level!

Until next time, y’all!

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Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review so I can keep bringing peeps all the need-to-know about honest art. We artists have to stick together, right? 

Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art? Email me at amy@jodieking.com!

Resources Mentioned: 

• Grab the Color Course for Rebels 101 & 102 on sale during Black Friday: https://www.jodiekingart.com/ccfr 
• Shop my Nova Paint Bundle: https://novacolorpaint.com/pages/artists/jodie-king 
• Grab a Patreon subscription on sale during Black Friday: patreon.com/honestartpodcast
• Want to sling some paint in person? Sign up for my Austin, TX workshop: https://jodieking.com/honest-art-workshop-austin-february-2025 
• How are you liking the Honest Art Podcast? Leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and let us know!    
• Watch this full episode on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC64Vn6NF5BfiwLNTSb_VnDA 

Want more from Jodie?

Learn from Jodie:

🎨Color Course for Rebels 101 & 102: https://www.jodiekingart.com/ccfr 

🎨Rebel Artists Society: https://www.jodiekingart.com/rebelartistssociety  

🎨Studio Elite: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite  

See some of Jodie’s favorite resources:

✍🏻Get my top 10 studio tools here: https://www.jodiekingart.com/10-studio-tools-opt-in 

✍🏻Learn 5 things they don’t teach you in art school: https://jodieking.com/work-with-me#free-rescources.0  

✍🏻See Jodie’s favorite things: https://www.amazon.com/shop/jodie_king_ 

🧘🏼‍♀️Guided Meditation for Creative Clarity: https://www.jodiekingart.com/guided-meditation