Exploring Exploring tonal tonal

values in values in artart

How painters and photographers can create different moods by the way they use light and dark tones

Landscape painting by the Spanish artist

El Greco

This painting, done about 400 years ago, uses

contrasts of light and dark values

to show the bright moonlight in the sky and on the buildings and

water etc. in the landscape.

• This photo of a Chinese junk (sail boat) is pleasing because of the dark shape of the boat against the pale sky. Do you agree?

• “Escape Through His Music” a portrait of Keb’Mo, by R.J. Blanchette. What do you think the shadows symbolise in this picture? Is the musician happy or sad, or another mood?

“Chateau de Vufflens“ by RJ Blanchette

“Elle” by RJ Blanchette

The Eiffel Tower at Night – Paris, France

• Here, the photographer has captured the striking shape of the tower and fountains illuminated against a dark sky.

Another painting by El Greco, this time a religious subject.

• Notice how the artist has used dark and light values to show the light coming from the baby Jesus which shines onto the faces and limbs of the people and angels around Him

“Zack and his Menagerie” Watercolour on paper

• When using watercolour paints, the white paper can be left unpainted to contrast with the darker paint.

Noah’s Ark wall hanging. The dark sky adds to the drama of this scene, and also symbolises the threat of the flood.

In this picture by the Jamaican artist Osmond Watson, the

tonal values help to make the

person look more solid and real. Do

you agree?

“The Laud is My Shepherd” by Osmond Watson

• Portrait of a boy, by Osmond Watson

• Do you notice the similarity to the work of the artist El Greco?

Osmond Watson

“Morning Song for Jah”

Osmond Watson – “Peace and

Love”

• Notice the use of bright highlights on the person’s face, that give the picture a mysterious, glowing effect.

Osmond Watson – “Freedom Fighter”

• As an Afro-Caribbean man … my philosophy on art is simple. My aim is to glorify Black people through my work …, giving dignity and self-respect where it is needed and to make people more aware of their own beauty.

• – Osmond Watson, 1995

Painting of a face by the Jamaican artist

Stefan - done in 2009

• Notice the highlights on the nose and lower lip, that tell us that the light source is somewhere above the person.

• By doing this, the artist has created a slightly scary mood.

Portrait by Stefan Spath

• The light and dark paints have been blended to create ‘modelling’ of the face, to make it seem quite three-dimensional. This is an important use for tonal values in art – to make things in 2-dimensional pictures appear to be 3-dimensional.

Calixte Henry of Haiti – “First Communion”

• The little girls’ dresses are especially light, to symbolise their purity and innocence.

• This artist who created this book cover has been able to use light

and dark to conjure up an imaginative night scene.