Do you sometimes feel you’d like to give your portraits more depth & atmosphere? But don’t know where to start?
You may have heard about tonal values, and that it’s one of the most fundamental art concepts to know when you want to paint and draw faces. And not only for faces, but in visual arts in general.
But why is that, and what are tonal values actually? Check out this 10 minutes introduction video to find out more.
Knowing about tonal values is so important that it’s also the first main subject of my in-depth online portrait class Drawing in the Soul.
If you know what tonal values are and how to work with them, you can give your portraits – and other visual artworks – more depth and interest.
So that’s the topic of this short video below. We’ll explore what tonal values are, why they are important, and how you can work with them in practice.
For me personally, tonal values really are the basis for my art – and especially for portraits. If the values are right, you can use any color or texture and it will still look like a ‘credible’ face.
And how about you? Do you work with tonal values in your art? Or is this a completely new concept to you? Let me know in a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🙂
Foundational portrait course
If you would like to learn all about creating portraits, then my foundational portrait course Drawing in the Soul is for you.
In this in-depth online class we take a deep dive in fundamental art concepts like tonal value, line and color. You'll learn how to draw the facial proportions in various directions, and work with a host of different mediums and supplies: from acrylic paint to charcoal, pastel, collage, and more.
This class is suited for all levels: from complete beginners to more experienced artists. We'll start from the very basics and build up to more advanced levels.
Your short video on tonal values was excellent with clear and simple expainations. I don’t have time to commit to a 12 week course at present but will certainly consider it in the future. Thanks
Thanks so much Anne, I’m glad you found it informative! 🙂