Trying to figure out where a gradation might “go astray” can be a real challenge for artists in an observational, representational effort—let alone when there’s particularly “difficult colors” in play. For example, yellow can be difficult to work with as not only is does it often seem weak in many color mixing scenarios—but due to how we perceive/experience yellow, our estimations of it are often exaggerated in both lightness and chroma.
One way our artists deal with challenging colors or elusive gradations is to use an isolating tool we call the Color/Value Isolator. This isolator is a visual assessment tool designed to aid artists in observing value and color relationships within a pictorial context. It is used within the Waichulis Curriculum to achieve a simultaneous contextual observation of two target areas. It consists of a rigid, uniform surface with two cut-out windows, allowing the viewer to compare different portions of a gradation or color passage under identical contextual conditions.
This tool is introduced during the Gradation Block Exercise to help artists detect deviations in smooth tonal transitions. By moving the isolator along a gradient, artists can often better assess where inconsistencies in value or color occur, enabling them to refine their observational accuracy and pictorial control. Additionally, the isolator is particularly useful when working with challenging hues, such as yellow, which can appear exaggerated in both lightness and chroma due to perceptual biases. By limiting extraneous visual information, the tool encourages more precise assessments, leading to improved accuracy in rendering.
The Color/Value Isolator can be made from any rigid, opaque material as long as it maintains its structural integrity when in use (avoiding distortion) and is uniform in surface color. Give it a try!