In order to paint in a naturalistic style, one must place pigment of the right shape in the right color and value in the right place. Getting placement right comes down to honing drawing skills. But what about color?

Specifically, when it comes down to color and value, which is more important?

 

Form is best revealed by accurately rendering objects with a well chosen local color modified by the right brightness value.

Even if color is randomly chosen, as long as values are accurately rendered, form is revealed.

When values vary randomly, form becomes difficult to discern regardless of consistency of color choice.