The elements of art: tone
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify different types of tone and add tone in my drawings.
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
Teacher tip
Use a range of pencil grades to increase tonal variation
Equipment
sketchbook or paper, pencil and optionally a pencil pot/tin can with pencils in to observe.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is tone?
Q2.Fill the gap:
Tone can be achieved in an artwork by showing the __________ and __________ .
Q3.Match each term with its correct definition
a dark area or shape produced by blocking rays of light
a bright or reflective area in a painting, picture, or design
an art technique depicting different levels of light and dark
a technique for adding tone with intersecting sets of hatched lines
how light or dark something is
Q4.Tone can be used to ...
Q5.There are different ways of creating tone. Which of these is NOT a technique for adding tone?
Q6.Which of the following artworks shows a range of tones?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.It can be easier to spot different tones in __________ artwork
Q2.What does "tone" refer to in art and design?
Q3.Which of the following best demonstrates a full tonal range?
Q4.Why is tone important in drawing?
Q5.What is a "highlight" in tonal drawing?
Q6.What is the purpose of a value scale in tonal studies?
To help you plan your 7 art and design lesson on: The elements of art: tone, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 art and design lesson on: The elements of art: tone, 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 3 art and design lessons from the The elements of art unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.