Grisaille: French for Value Study

Value studies seem to be the one necessary evil, in creating a painting, that no one really wants to take time for. Why is that? Even though they are great accomplishments, they’re really not the kind of thing we brag to our painting friends about. But what if we told our friends that we did a grisaille of our painting, how impressed would they be then. It really sounds so much more exciting than a value study, but that’s just what it is.

Grisaille (gris-eye) comes from the French word (gris) meaning gray. It is a monochromatic painting or study that is completed in different values or shades of gray. The practice of grisaille has been in use for centuries as a preliminary exercise for developing paintings as well as for designing sculptures or in the art of plaster casting. They are also created on canvas as a tonal underpainting for oil painting. This grisaille underpainting is commonly used in place of the lean layer as practiced in the fat over lean principle but also establishes the initial tones and shadows of the painting. Grisaille is also a common technique in mural painting. This technique is often desired as it adds design without distracting from the furnishings while creating a specific mood and atmosphere for the viewer. Architectural elements are especially artful when depicted as grisailles. So just like the common value study, a grisaille is actually a tool to improve the artist’s vision for a work of art. Do you think the masters dreaded the grisaille process like we sometimes dread the value study?

Value studies are really very beneficial exercises that improve the composition and overall success of your painting. The practice of creating a value study allows you to view the depth, light direction, and mood of the painting before you are committed to the design. It is also a way to break down the layers without the distraction of color. Colors tend to hypnotize and woo us into adding more and more until they have overwhelmed the painting. The value study is accomplished with just one color, usually a dark neutral shade, by diluting the pigment gradually to obtain different degrees of value. A value scale should include from 3-10 different shades. Beginning with the least number of values allows you to simplify the scene. However, the more shades you have available, the more depth you will achieve. Watercolorists usually start with preserving the whites and then gradually build light to dark allowing washes to dry in between layers. Artists working in oil, gouache or acrylics should work with a flat mid-toned layer to establish a base ground and then move on to the darker areas, finishing up with the lightest highlights as the last application.

No matter what medium you choose to work in, creating a grisaille or value study, will increase the success of your artwork. You should think of this process as a work of art on its own. This attitude will compel you to develop your painting, not just with completion in mind, but also to continue to improve your artwork as well. Sharing your experience with your painting comrades will encourage them to practice the art of grisaille as well! Have a Happy Gris (gray) Day!