Quick digital paint. 3 values study.

 

When it comes to sharpening your artistic fundamentals, few exercises are as effective, and as deceptively simple, as a 3 values study. This quick digital painting was done using Infinite Painter, and it’s part of a series of value exercises I return to regularly to maintain clarity in my compositions.

Why 3 Values?

The core idea is straightforward: limit yourself to just three tones; light, mid, and dark. This forces you to simplify forms, focus on readability, and make conscious decisions about where to place contrast. Without the full spectrum of colors and gradients, you’re left with the essentials: composition, shape, and light logic.

Reducing an image to only three values is an incredible way to improve your ability to group elements and create depth and focus. It also helps to avoid over-rendering and teaches you how to guide the viewer’s eye through strategic contrast.

Why Use Infinite Painter?

I chose Infinite Painter for this study because it offers a minimal yet powerful setup for quick sketches and controlled experiments. Its brush engine and layer control make it easy to block in values, test variations, and refine shapes, all while staying in the flow of creation.

Tips if You Want to Try This Yourself:

• Start with a simple silhouette and build your composition from large shapes first.

• Use a mid-value background to give yourself room to push light and dark.

• Avoid small details, focus on defining the image through shape and contrast.

• Keep it quick. 15–30 minutes is enough to get real value (pun intended) out of the exercise.

This kind of study doesn’t take long but consistently helps me refine my visual thinking. It’s also a great warm-up or break from longer, more detailed pieces.

If you haven’t tried a 3-values study in a while, or ever. I highly recommend giving it a go. You’ll be surprised how much clarity it brings to your overall painting approach.

#3ValuesStudy #DigitalArt #InfinitePainter #ArtFundamentals

Link: Infinite Painter.