John F. Carlson’s theory on Angles and Consequent Values, as outlined in *Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting*, explains how light interacts with different planes in a landscape, influencing their relative values. He categorizes the landscape into four main value groups based on the angle at which surfaces receive light:
1. The Sky – The lightest value in the landscape because it is the source of illumination.
2. The Ground Plane – Generally the second lightest, as it reflects a significant amount of sky light.
3. Slanted Planes (Slopes, Hills, and Roofs) – These receive varying amounts of light depending on their angle and orientation to the light source, placing them in an intermediate value range.
4. The Upright Planes (Trees, Buildings, Vertical Cliffs) – The darkest elements because they receive the least direct light, often being perpendicular to the sky’s illumination.
Carlson emphasizes that understanding these fundamental value relationships helps artists create a sense of depth, atmosphere, and natural harmony in their paintings. By adhering to these principles, painters can achieve a more convincing representation of light and form in the landscape.
This bar chart visually represents Carlson’s Angles and Consequent Values theory. The sky is the lightest value, followed by the ground plane, then slanted planes, with upright planes being the darkest.
Next, I'll create a simple landscape diagram to illustrate how these values appear in a scene.
This simple landscape diagram visually demonstrates Carlson’s Angles and Consequent Values theory in action:
- Sky (lightest): The primary light source.
- Ground Plane (second lightest): Reflects a significant amount of sky light.
- Slanted Plane (mid-value): A hillside or roof that receives varying light.
- Upright Plane (darkest): Trees or vertical cliffs that receive the least direct light.
Here’s a brief overview of this concept where I also summarize how Carlson describes aerial perspective as well.
This structured approach helps landscape painters establish realistic value relationships, enhancing depth and atmosphere in their work. Let me know if you’d like additional details!
In the meantime here is a 10-minute book summary on Carlson’s classic painting book
Thanks for checking out my work!
Be well!
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