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I like your list a lot. I knew composition had to be number one. Could you give a few words on #4, three value massing? And maybe as it relates to #5.
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Mike,
I don't know how brief I can be
, but here goes.
I've posted two paintings, 19th century. These two paintings are important only in that they were the original paintings I recognized this principle in. If you go back and check out five centuries of paintings in black and white (to isolate the values) you will see the same pattern.
The light, middle and dark values are massed together. Within that value massing, the middle value, for instance, can be broken up into numerous values, from the darkest middle value to the lightest of middle values, but within the mass, it never crosses over into the light value or the dark value massing.
In this first painting, you will note that the head in the light and the cravat are the light values. The background, coat, and shadow on the side of the head are middle value. The vest is the only dark value. A very simple, very strong head.