When I first started drawing, I spent a lot of time stressing over getting the color exactly right. I thought realism was all about matching the reference photo down to the perfect shade. But over time, I learned a surprising truth: value is far more important than color when it comes to creating realistic, eye-catching art.

So… What is Value, Exactly?

Value refers to the relative lightness or darkness of a color. It’s how we understand light and shadow in an image. Without strong value contrast, your drawing can end up looking flat—even if every color is technically “correct.”

Notice how the dark value at the center of the Peony to the right adds depth and makes the center look like it is recessed into the flower.

Value Creates Depth

Compare the image to the right with the one above.  I have decreased the contrast and the flower looks flat and one-dimensional.

Don’t be afraid of the darks!

In my experience, many new artists pay more attention to color than value.  Let’s say you’re drawing a red flower, and you notice a shadow on one of the petals. You might assume, “I’ll just use Scarlet Red for that shadow since that’s the color I see.” But once you fill in the rest of the petal, that “shadow” no longer looks darker than the surrounding area—there’s no contrast. Which means… it’s not really a shadow at all.

Instead, choosing a red with a deeper value, like Tuscan Red, can help you create a shadow that actually reads as a shadow—even if it doesn’t perfectly match the color in your reference photo.