11 Dark and light - tonal patterns
Looking at shapes and negative shapes can be linked to dark and light.. Here, by defining shapes
from the border areas of dark and light we can suggest the action of light and three dimensions.
This uses collage (grey, black and white paper and glue) as a way of recognising patterns.
Although you only have 3 tones of paper – white, gray and black you can arrange the way they contrast to create four tones. The gray on white looks like a dark gray and on black it looks like a light gray ( known as the ‘contrast effect of tone).
Looking at shapes and negative shapes can be linked to dark and light.. Here, by defining shapes
from the border areas of dark and light we can suggest the action of light and three dimensions.
This uses collage (grey, black and white paper and glue) as a way of recognising patterns.
Although you only have 3 tones of paper – white, gray and black you can arrange the way they contrast to create four tones. The gray on white looks like a dark gray and on black it looks like a light gray ( known as the ‘contrast effect of tone).
1. Set up a strongly lit still life or figure.
2. Do not draw to plan your composition.
3. Work on a middle tone grey piece of paper as the support.
4. Tear your paper to make the shapes of dark and light you can pick out. (It helps to half close your eyes to allow the darks to merge to simplify the range of tone)
5. Move the torn tones around and arrange them before you stick them down.
As you work you will feel that you are ‘making a picture’ rather than simply recording dark and light. This is a useful transition between observation and creating a ‘pictorial order’ As only 3 tones of paper are used to translate the complex world of light and shadow the limitations emphasise the elements that make up a picture. So you have to consider aspects such as shape, contrast, interval, proportion of dark to light – not hair, skin, cloth , wood.
