Tonal Studies

Highlights and shadows give life to a painting but placing them is tricky. SANDRINE MAUGY sets out five principles for a successful tone study and explores the best media to use

- SANDRINE MAUGY

1. Consistent light

Natural light changes fast, which might result in a loss of consistency when you are painting over an extended period of time. This is where the tone study comes in. It allows us to observe and put down the tones quickly, without worrying about aesthetics or neatness of stroke. Whether working in natural or artificial light, a tone study gives you a consistent reference in terms of both timescale and accuracy of tonal placement throughout the subsequent painting.

The primary light source is the beacon that guides the artist through the meanderings of light and dark. When working outdoors in daylight, that primary light source is the sun. Depending on the weather, it can be pronounced or hidden. But even when clouds obscure the sky, there is always a dominant light direction. When working indoors, the primary light source can come from anywhere and multiple sources can be used to create a less natural environment. It doesn’t matter how you set it up, as long as it stays consistent.

2. Modifying factors

While the primary light source dictates the main tonal zones, other factors modify these and influence the tone study. The first of these is reflected light. No subject is truly isolated in space. Light bounces off objects and structures, which create areas of reflected light on the main subject. As some of the light is absorbed and only some of it bounces back, reflected light is never as light as the main highlight.

Cast shadows are another modifying factor. If something is on top or in front of a subject, it casts a shadow that darkens the tonal zones created by the primary light source.