The True “Value” of a Painting

When most people hear the word value in art, their first thought is money. What is this painting worth? How much does it cost? And while price is certainly part of the conversation, for an artist, value has an entirely different — and far more important — meaning.

In painting, value is light versus dark. White against black. Pale green against hunter green. It’s not about color itself (hue), but the contrast between light and shadow that gives a painting its structure, depth, and power. Bob Ross put it simply: “You have to have light to see the dark, and you have to have dark to see the light.” His words remind us that value isn’t just technical — it’s the foundation of drama and joy in painting. And while Bob is often remembered for his gentle presence rather than his technical teaching, he understood the importance of value deeply. I was reminded of this again in a color theory class with Jane Jones, where she emphasized how everything in painting is built on value. Those lessons, from Ross’s plainspoken wisdom to Jones’s detailed analysis, all circle back to the same truth: value is what holds a painting together and gives it its strength.

Before you notice the subject or the brushstrokes, your eye first responds to value. That glowing highlight against a shadowed background, or the sudden shift from deep blues to radiant golds — that’s what makes a painting breathe, sometimes even taking your breath away. Without value, even the most carefully painted scene can fall flat. With it, even a simple subject can leap off the canvas.

Moonlit Stillness

Value on the CanvasStrong value creates mood and emotion:

In Moonlit Stillness, the quiet drama comes from the moon’s pale glow surrounded by deep shadowed trees. Without that contrast, the moon wouldn’t feel alive.

A Quite Walk - Max Winningham

Quiet Walk by Max Winningham, where the golden light breaking through dark trees shows how value alone can create mood and impact.

The Fairy Sentimental

In The Fairy Sentimental, the fiery autumn tree glows like a beacon because it rises from gray rock and misty water. Its brilliance comes from the values around it.

In each case, it’s not just the subject that matters — it’s how light and dark shape the story.

Sometimes the contrast becomes clear when two paintings are set side by side. For instance, Eternal Horizon demonstrates bold shifts in value — golden sunlight against storm-dark skies — creating instant drama. In contrast, a quieter work like Quiet Refuge relies on more even, muted tones. Its softness has its own charm, but the lack of strong value differences means it doesn’t strike the eye with the same power. Seeing them together shows just how much value determines the impact a painting makes.

Value in the MarketplaceBut of course, there’s the other kind of value: monetary worth.

Sometimes the financial value of a painting lines up neatly with the emotional impact its values create. Other times, it doesn’t. A collector might pay thousands for a name, while another painting, rich with breathtaking contrasts of light and dark, sits unnoticed.

This is where the word value becomes a playful paradox:

On the canvas, value creates visual power.

In the gallery, value determines financial price.

The two don’t always match — but the collector who understands both is the one who takes home the most meaningful art.

The TakeawayThe next time you’re looking at a painting — whether in a studio, a gallery, or on your own wall — pause and notice the play of light and dark. Ask yourself: What emotions are these values creating? How do they move my eye across the canvas?

Because the true “value” of a painting isn’t only about what’s printed on a price tag. It’s in the way values of light and shadow bring it to life, make it memorable, and give it meaning that endures long after the purchase.

If this reflection sparked your curiosity, explore more of the Blakely Art Collection. Each painting tells its own story of value — in light, in shadow, and in meaning.

Hope Blakely