Tonal Values

Tonal Values


HOME	SOLVENTS	MEDIUMS	VARNISH	BLENDS	WAXES	STOCKIST

Tonal Value in Painting.

Tonal values are what make a painting 'talk' not the colour
- no matter how much colour you put in a picture, if the values are not correct, it will make no difference.

These flowers are shown painted on a light background and the same picture showing it's tonal values.
This shows the range of tonal values and how they 'appear' set against the light background. Light to dark and light against dark.

On the grey scale picture, which flowers appear to come forward and which recede?

This greyscale is made up of actual parts of the painting, in ten sections from white through to black. It may be difficult to find the colour by it's tone on the greyscale. Scroll down a little, see the greyscale compared to the dark background............ not sure?
For the coloured version click here.

Same picture given a dark background and it's tonal value.
This shows the range of tonal values used, set against the dark background and the above greyscale applies to each image, as does the coloured version.

Try using your hand in front of the screen to block out the coloured version, notice that the colour distracts our eyes from seeing the tone/value.
On the grey picture, which flowers appear to come forward and which recede?

Coloured version.

Visually our eyes will go to the lightest area and the area of greatest contrast.
The tonal values appear different against the light background when compared with the same values set against the dark background.

Each background seems to make some flowers come forward and others recede, this is due to the tone of the flower against the background, their apparent position is relative to the contrast of the black or white background not the colour.

If you have trouble picking out tone/value in a coloured picture or view, 'squint' at it.

One of the reasons many artists choose to paint on a neutral or mid value background is to help with getting the tonal value correct, it helps the eye to judge the difference.

Back to Tole Gallery Back to Colour page

Products	Oils	Brush Cleaning	Tonal Values	Brushes	Links
Stockist-UK	Paint	Pencil Blending	Wet on wet	Easels	Art Links
Stockist-EU	Oil Pastels	Painting Mediums	Techniques	Palettes	Privacy
Stockist-WW	Fat over Lean	Acrylic Cleaners	Tole Painting	Knives	Contact
MSDS	Colour	Damar Varnish	Tole Gallery	Surfaces	FAQ
Testimonials	Colour Mixing	Linseed Oils	Inking	Signwriters	About Us
Reviews	Painted Colour	Waxes	Parchment	Pen Nib Cleaner	Video's
Awards	Colour Wheel	Wax Additions	Tuition	Printmakers Oils
		Protective Brush Oil
		Clay Smoothing

		HOME

Copyright 1999 - 2020 © J. & T. Blackman Ltd. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
The information contained herein is the Intellectual Property of Jacqui Blackman and
J. & T. Blackman Ltd., and is supplied without liability for errors or omissions.
Zest-it ® and its logo are Registered Trademarks.
No part may be reproduced or used except as authorized by contract or other written permission, unless stated otherwise.
The copyright and the foregoing restriction on reproduction and use extend to all media in which the information may be embodied.