Make a tonal study of a sculpture
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create a tonal study of a sculpture.
Key learning points
- Tone refers to the light and dark areas of an object or artwork
- Using the side of a pencil helps create smoother, softer shading
- Shading in one direction ensures there are no gaps or harsh edges
- Blending from light to dark creates smooth transitions and realistic tones
Keywords
Sketch/sketching - making quick and simple drawings to show ideas or the things we see
Shade/shading - drawn marks to show areas of light and dark
Tone - how light or dark something is
Blending - mixing colours or shades together smoothly
Common misconception
Pupils may believe that tone is only about making things darker and that shading should be done with harsh, straight lines.
Tone includes both light and dark areas, and the goal is to show the full range of tones, from light highlights to deep shadows. Using the side of the pencil for softer shading, helps to avoid harsh lines.
Teacher tip
Remind students that tonal studies take time and mistakes are part of the learning process. Show a finished tonal study to clarify the task and goal. Encourage collaboration by pairing pupils to share and discuss their shading techniques for feedback.
Equipment
Sculptures created in a previous lesson, pencils (preferably HB or 2B) erasers, paper towels, reference photos of the sculptures (optional)
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following materials is best for building the armature (skeleton structure) of your sculpture?
Q2.True or False? Using recycled materials like cereal boxes and milk cartons is a good way to create your sculpture.
Q3.Match the material to its purpose:
Q4.True or False? You should focus on adding as much detail as possible before the structure of your sculpture is complete.
Q5.When assembling your creature, it’s important to think about its __________ and make sure the parts are balanced.
Q6.Which of the following best describes a thick, dark line used in drawing?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Tone refers to the light and _______ areas of an object or artwork.
Q2.True or False? Shading in one direction helps avoid uneven marks and creates smoother transitions.
Q3.Which material is best for creating fine details when drawing a tonal study of a sculpture?
Q4.Which of these is the best way to create a smooth tonal gradient?
To help you plan your 3 art and design lesson on: Make a tonal study of a sculpture, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 art and design lesson on: Make a tonal study of a sculpture, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 art and design lessons from the Creature Construction: sculpture unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.