Thankfully for us, these problems are easily avoided through a consideration of the simple value groups of our subjects. Charles Bargue gives us the answer in his 19th century drawing manual ‘Cours de Desinn’.
In these drawings Bargue simplifies his subjects to 3 values exploring the solidity and finish of the drawing through the transitions between these simple values. Students would do well to take his example and start their drawings with a limited number of values (between 2 and 5) .