In this discourse, we shall engage in the practice of airbrushing tonal value, a crucial skill that can make or break the realistic quality of your paintings.
At the crux of tonal value lies the concept of tone, which concerns itself with the interplay between light and dark in an image. Indeed, the degree of variation in luminosity between the lightest and darkest regions of an image constitutes its tone.
Needless to say, the nuances of tonality are so vast and multifaceted that they have been the subject of intensive scrutiny and analysis over an extended period of time. However, for the purposes of this article, we shall only scratch the surface of the topic.
Let us delve deeper into the matter at hand. Tonal value, in its essence, refers to the perceived brightness or darkness of a color, irrespective of its hue. It is this property that imbues a painting with a three-dimensional quality, thereby lending it a sense of depth and dimensionality that would be otherwise absent.
It is imperative to note that no amount of color can make up for the absence of tonal value. In essence, the latter represents the fundamental building block of realism in painting, without which a painting would appear unnaturally flat and lacking in visual interest.
Against this backdrop, we shall undertake an experiment that shall employ an airbrush to alter the color of a cube. In doing so, we shall systematically explore the impact of varying tonal values on the perceived depth and realism of the painted object.
Materials required:
- Bristol board is a type of paper you can use to make posters or drawings. You can use golden colors to make your poster look nice. It’s best to use a double-action airbrush to make the colors even. Remember to have an air source and easel ready when you start painting.
Step 1
Apply the Frisket film to your painting surface. This is done by smoothing it out and removing all the air bubbles. Work from the center out to the edges to do this properly. Square on airbrush paper
Step 2
You don’t want to draw your cube directly on your painting surface because the pencil lines will be difficult to cover up. Drawing your design on a masking material, such as Frisket, is a better option because mistakes can be easily corrected. I always lay my designs out on tracing paper and then transfer the design to the masking from the tracing paper. transfer design
Step 3
To transfer your cube to the Frisket, you need to trace the cube onto the back of the tracing paper. Then turn it over so the original side faces up and traces it again. This will transfer the cube design onto the Frisket. You might need to darken the lines on the Frisket, but at least you’ll have the basic design in place. Start airbrushing cube
Step 4
You will need a number 11 blade and a hobby knife to cut all the lines in your cube. We will start with the darkest areas and work to the lightest on this cube. Figure out which direction your light source is coming from and remove that section of Frisket covering the section on the cube that will be the darkest. In my example, that’s the right section on my cube; it’s there where I start applying color. Work from the darkest area of that section to the lightest. For this example, I will use red, which shows up better than black in this article.
Step 5
Remove the next Frisket section that covers your cube’s top piece with the first side completed. This will be the second darkest area on your cube. Apply your color in the back corner and work your way forward. Since we are using just one color in this exercise, you don’t need to replace the Frisket overside one.
Step 6
We’re almost done. Take off the last piece of Frisket from the front of your cube. This will be the lightest part because it is closest to the light. Apply your color accordingly.
Step 7
You should now have a cube like the one in the picture. Remember to keep the light side of the cube light, as it is closest to our light source.3D airbrushed cube.
Finished
There you have it! Your finished cube.
Try another cube, but use the same color on each side this time. You will see how much of a difference it makes. We have given the cube the illusion of both depth and volume by using our color wisely and rendering darker and lighter areas on the cube.
If you find it difficult to see the difference in tone and value in a colored picture or view, squint at it. I hope this was helpful.
FAQ
How do you paint tonal value?
To paint tonal value, you need to use different colors and shades to create the illusion of depth and volume. The darkest parts of your painting should be in the back, while the lightest parts should be in the front. You can also use airbrushing to make your cube look three-dimensional.
What are the 5 tonal values?
There are five tonal values in a painting: light, medium light, medium, medium dark, and dark. Each of these is created using different colors and shades to create the illusion of depth and volume. The darkest parts of your painting should be in the back, while the lightest parts should be in the front. You can also use airbrushing to make your cube look three-dimensional.
What is tonal value?
Tonal value is the darkness or lightness of a color. It creates the illusion of depth and volume in a painting. The darkest parts of your painting should be in the back, while the lightest parts should be in the front. You can also use airbrushing to make your cube look three-dimensional.
Is tonal drawing important in illustration? Why?
Tonal drawing is important in illustration because it allows you to create the illusion of depth and volume in your paintings. The darkest parts of your painting should be in the back, while the lightest parts should be in the front. You can also use airbrushing to make your cube look three-dimensional.