New
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The elements of art: tone
I can identify different types of tone and add tone in my drawings.
Lesson 3 of 7
New
New
- Year 7
The elements of art: tone
I can identify different types of tone and add tone in my drawings.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Tone indicates how light or dark something is
- Tone can be organised into groups of lights, mid tones, darks
- Tone is used to create form
Keywords
Shadow - the area of darkness where the object or figure rests on a surface
Highlight - a bright or reflective area in a painting, picture, or design
Shading - a technique used to depict different levels of light and dark in an image
Cross hatching - a technique for shading and adding tone with intersecting sets of parallel lines
Tone - how light or dark something is
Common misconception
Tone is all about smooth blending
Tone can be captured in a variety of ways and mediums
Use a range of pencil grades to increase tonal variation
Teacher tip
Equipment
sketchbook or paper, pencil and optionally a pencil pot/tin can with pencils in to observe.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is tone?
What is tone?
The layering of detail in an artwork
How brightly coloured something is
The opacity of an object
The colour blending in an image
Q2.Fill the gap:
Tone can be achieved in an artwork by showing the __________ and __________ .
Fill the gap:
Tone can be achieved in an artwork by showing the __________ and __________ .
colours and blending
details and texture
techniques and materials
creativity and expression
Q3.Match each term with its correct definition
Match each term with its correct definition
Q4.Tone can be used to ...
Tone can be used to ...
give your artwork an Abstract Expressionist feel
Q5.There are different ways of creating tone. Which of these is NOT a technique for adding tone?
There are different ways of creating tone. Which of these is NOT a technique for adding tone?
shading
hatching
cross-hatching
mark-making
Q6.Which of the following artworks shows a range of tones?
Which of the following artworks shows a range of tones?
Option 2
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.It can be easier to spot different tones in __________ artwork
It can be easier to spot different tones in __________ artwork
sculptural
photographic
aesthetically pleasing
Abstract Expressionist
Q2.What does "tone" refer to in art and design?
What does "tone" refer to in art and design?
The mood of a painting
The texture of a surface
The use of warm and cool colours
Q3.Which of the following best demonstrates a full tonal range?
Which of the following best demonstrates a full tonal range?
Only using black and white
Primary colours arranged in order
Different line thicknesses
Q4.Why is tone important in drawing?
Why is tone important in drawing?
It helps create colour
It shows perspective
It defines line quality
Q5.What is a "highlight" in tonal drawing?
What is a "highlight" in tonal drawing?
The darkest area of an object
The background tone behind an object
An outline of an object added for emphasis
Q6.What is the purpose of a value scale in tonal studies?
What is the purpose of a value scale in tonal studies?
To practice line drawing
To arrange colours by temperature
To test brush techniques
