chriswoodartist

What is tonal drawing ?

Tone = Shading

Drawings can be created using DRY or WET media – I.e. PENCIL/CHARCOAL or INK / WATERCOLOUR

A tone begins as one mark or one line. Shapes and forms are built up by slowly increasing the number of marks. You can create hard or soft edges. To create a hard edge SHADE up to a line. TO give a SOFT edge simply blur the edge .

There is no right or wrong way to shade drawings. It is largely dependent on your choice of media .

Drawing with tone or shading makes your subject look more 3D. I began this drawing with the rectangular block of tone and then dragged a putty rubber over the box to create the white lines. Next I drew some black outlines and the drawing started to take shape. It’s simply about adding and subtracting. Make a mark then reduce its impact by gently dabbing the putty rubber over the mark. 

Here again the charcoal drawing is constructed with positive and negative lines. The restrained use of shading is kept to two or three tones. In common with the first drawing I began with a rectangle of tone – this was done by placing the charcoal on its side and moving the stick of charcoal from side to side. Next I rubbed a paper towel over the block of tone.

Mrs Coot has a full range of tone. I used Indian ink and watercolour in this study