Optional Question: Tone

Understanding Tone

Tone refers to the lightness or darkness of colours in a piece of art.
It is used to create depth, highlight areas of interest, imply texture and add a sense of realism.
Tones are created by adding black or white (also called shades and tints) to a colour, which influences its intensity.

High Key Tone: High Key Tone artworks are composed mainly of light tones. This is used to create a light, cheerful mood.
Low Key Tone: Low Key Tone artworks are composed mainly of dark tones, often used to create a moody, sombre or mysterious atmosphere.
Balanced Tone: Artworks with balanced tones contain an equal blend of light, mid and dark tones, creating a balanced, realistic, and harmonious feel.

Contrast: The difference in lightness and darkness between colours or tones. High contrast images often appear more dynamic, whereas low contrast images can seem more tranquil.
Values: The relative lightness and darkness in a composition. Understanding value is critical in drawing and painting where you’re trying to create a three-dimensional illusion.
Gradients: A smooth transition from one tone to another. Gradations can suggest volume, contour and depth.

First identify the light source, then consider how it would interact with the objects or subjects in your piece.
Use tonal contrast to draw attention to key elements of your composition.
Practice tonal sketching frequently to build your confidence and understanding of how tone works.

Be able to identify where an artist has effectively used tone to create depth, focus, mood or realism.
Discuss how tone interacts with other elements such as line, shape, and colour within a piece.
Evaluate how well the tone contributes to the overall effect and intention of the artwork.
Use this understanding to suggest improvements or variations in your own or others’ art.

Use various tonal techniques in your own work. Try different methods like stippling, hatching, cross-hatching, blending, and so on.
Regularly critique your own and others’ work, focussing on the use of tone, to develop an eye for tonal balance and subtlety.
Continuously adapt and refine your use of tone in response to what you learn from your own work and study of others.