At the Sally Strand workshop last month we all shared our tips for improving the way we work and making our art life simpler and safer. Sally's contribution was to introduce us to the Val-U-Viewer (see left) which she had discovered in California.The concept behind the Val-U-Viewer is very simple. Red acetate is placed between two pieces of card which have a viewfinder shape hole. When you look through the red acetate it converts all images to greyscale values - which helps with making better decisions about composition and cropping.
On the reverse of the Val-U-Viewer, next to the edge of the viewer is printed a 10 point value greyscale. When you come to develop your artwork you can assess where any tonal value you can see through the viewer comes on the greyscale printed on the Val-U-Viewer - and then compare it to the work in progress to see where values need to be developed further.
By the end of the workshop those who had acquired a Val-U-Viewer were commenting very positively about how much it helped them to see values when drawing from life - helping both composition and rendering. I also had to scan an order form and send it off to a friend of mine recently as all the members of her art group, having seen and tried hers, have now decided they want one too!
The Val-U-Viewer has been trade marked and copyrighted by Don Murphy Studio Gallery. Each Val-U-Viewer comes with a checklist of questions and instructions on how to use it.
[UPDATE: This post has been edited as the chap who made this was Don Murphy Studio Gallery, PO Box 3881, Torrance, CA 90510 but I understand he's no longer operating. However the principle underpinning the viewer still works - i.e. use red acetate - and you could always make your own]
great tip - thank you for sharing. i definitely need one of these :D
ReplyDeleteI've since learned from Don that he gives discounts for purchases of 10 or more. Contact him for further details.
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