Use a Variety of Tones
Here I used hatching to create the variety of tones in this drawing. To establish the dark areas, I simply layer the hatching.
Tone is the term artists use to refer to color and value in the areas between contour lines. Tone covers a broader area than a line and offers more possibilities for variation in value. Tonal drawings define shapes with areas of contrasting value rather than with definite, hard contour lines—the same way our eyes distinguish shapes. Adding tonal values to a sketch can make objects appear more three-dimensional, enhancing form and increasing the viewer’s ability to “read” a drawing. Tone may be applied with dry medium such as charcoal or pastel, or it may be added with a wet medium such as an ink wash. The drawing surface itself may also add tone to the artwork.
Use a Variety of Tones
Here I used hatching to create the variety of tones in this drawing. To establish the dark areas, I simply layer the hatching.
An Offshore Breeze
Fine-line technical pen on bristol board
12" × 9" (30cm × 23cm)
A Tonal Sketch
In this quick tonal sketch the hatching is coarse and abbreviated to quickly establish the placement of different tonal values. This establishes the shape of the lilies.
Lilies
Fine-line technical pen on bristol board
10" × 8" (25cm × 20cm)