Light, Shadow and Value
Learn essential colour theory and lighting techniques to create vibrant concept art and illustrations!
Save up to $50 on Spring Term classes by signing up before March 8th.
Light, Shadow and Value
Discover how light transforms the way we see and represent form. Students explore tonal values and contrast to create drawings and paintings with clarity and impact.
Students explore how light defines form and atmosphere. The class builds from value control and cast shadows to tonal composition, culminating in a fully rendered black and white study that shows depth, clarity, and realism.
When paired with Digital Painting, this class ensures you can translate traditional value skills directly into digital artwork.
- Course Type Art Fundamentals
- Duration 10 Weeks
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Skill Level
Level 1 Level 1
Strong fundamentals in traditional drawing, painting and sculpting are the foundations to create amazing artwork.
This level is about solidifying the fundamentals, getting a refresher on the most important art principles, and learning tricks to create realistic drawing and paintings.
- Language English
Schedule
Online - Spring 2026 - Thursdays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM* EST - Starts April 9th - 10 weeks with Jordan Jardine
Onsite - Summer 2026 - TBA
Please note that we observe Daylight Saving Time, so classes may shift from Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) UTC−4 to Eastern Standard Time (EST) UTC−5 or vice versa during the term.
If you are unable to attend the live online class, you will still have access to video recordings of the class lectures and will still receive personalized feedback from your instructor. However, for Onsite Classes there will be no recordings provided.
It should be noted that students should set aside a minimum of 3 hours per week to complete assignments for this class. Students may even require a bit more time (4-5 hours per week) depending on how quickly they can work through assignments.
*Please note that this class' duration is subject to change (to either 2 hours or 3 hours) depending on the number of enrolled students.
Prerequisites
- Proficiency with all basic Photoshop tools.
- Should have completed the Intro to Digital Painting course or equivalent practice/experience.
- Some intermediate drawing and basic painting skills (use of proper perspective, proportions, shading and colour).
- If you do not have the required skill in drawing, painting or Photoshop, it is suggested that you take our Intro to Digital Painting class.
Language requirements: You need at least intermediate level English to take this class. Please be advised that there could be artistic nudity in our classes. Students should be 14 years old to enroll.
Required Materials
Material List:
- A desktop computer or laptop with Photoshop installed*
- A graphic tablet with pressure sensitivity (from brands such as Wacom, Huion, or Xencelabs), OR a tablet-laptop hybrid (also with Photoshop installed) with pressure sensitivity (such as the Wacom Cintiq Companion or Microsoft Surface Pro).
Important note:
Please note that the vast majority of our digital classes are taught using Adobe Photoshop and that this is also the recommended program for students to use. You may consult our FAQ for more information on other software which may be potentially used for class, however, please note that no technical assistance will be provided by instructors on the use of alternative painting software as they may not be familiar with the program.
Please ensure that all of your hardware and software are functioning properly before the start of the term; there will not be any time to resolve technical issues in class.
*Please consult our Tech Requirements below for more precise computer specifications.
Tech Requirements for Attending Syn Studio Online Classes
Minimum Requirements
- A strong uninterrupted broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE) connection with a minimum 600kbps bandwidth (up/down).
- A Laptop/Desktop computer equipped with a single core processor (at least 1 GHZ processing speed) or a smartphone/tablet with equivalent processing capabilities
- Good speakers/earphones to listen to the classes
- Browser - IE7+, Safari 5+, Firefox, Chrome
- Operating System - Windows XP, Mac OS 10.6, Linux distro based on 3.0 kernel, Android 5.0, iOS 10
Syn Studio Recommendations
- A strong uninterrupted broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE) connection with a minimum 1.5Mbps bandwidth (up/down). You can also connect to the internet directly using your ethernet cable to improve your experience.
- Laptop/Desktop computer equipped with a dual core processor with at least 2 GHZ processing speed and a 4 GB RAM
- High Quality speakers/earphones to listen to the classes
- Browser & Operating System - We recommend using the latest version of the browser and operating system for an optimal online classroom experience.
Course Outline
*Please note that the following outline is subject to change slightly at the teacher's discretion.
Week 1 - Review and Extension of Fundamentals
-Quick refresher on value scales, light and shadow zones, as well as geometric forms
-Applying Light and Shadow to complex compound forms (stacked objects, organic forms)
Week 2 - Light and Shadow in context
- Core Shadows, reflected light and how environment affects value
Week 3 - Cast Shadows and Multiple Light Sources
- Cast shadows in perspective and how secondary light alters form
Week 4 - Value Grouping and Tonal Design
- Grouping values for clarity ( 2 value, 3 value, 5 value breakdowns)
Week 5 - Planes of the form and edge control
- Planar analysis of the head, figure and organic objects
Week 6 - Depth and Atmosphere in values
- Atmospheric perspective, and overlapping depth cues
Week 7 - Composition through Value Hierarchy
- Focal Points, leading the eye, and balancing light and dark shapes
Week 8 - Still life (applied study and final project)
- Final Project presented to students
-Fully rendered grayscale illustration that shows:
-Accurate light and shadow logic
-Clear value hierarchy
-Edge control and tonal design
-Depth through value
- Review of previous topics
Week 9 - Still life (applied study and final project)
- Review and paintovers / guidance on students final projects
Week 10 - Final Project Presentation & Critique
Testimonials
Registration
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Questions and Assistance
Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] or give us a call at 514-998-7625
Please consult our FAQ; most of the commonly asked questions are answered in detail there. If you cannot find the answer to your question, please feel free to fill out the form below, or, send an email to [email protected]