Make a tonal study of a sculpture | Art and design | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Which of the following materials is best for building the armature (skeleton structure) of your sculpture?
- Plastic bags
- Wire ✓
- Paper clips
True or False? Using recycled materials like cereal boxes and milk cartons is a good way to create your sculpture.
- True ✓
- False
Match the material to its purpose:
- Newspaper
  
  ⇔
  
  To build up the internal structure ✓
- Corrugated card
  
  ⇔
  
  For adding a ridged texture ✓
- Gum tape
  
  ⇔
  
  To secure joints ✓
True or False? You should focus on adding as much detail as possible before the structure of your sculpture is complete.
- True
- False ✓
When assembling your creature, it’s important to think about its __________ and make sure the parts are balanced.
- colour
- pattern
- stability ✓
- eyes
Which of the following best describes a thick, dark line used in drawing?
- A straight line
- A wiggly line
- A bold line ✓
- A dotted line

Exit quiz

Tone refers to the light and _______ areas of an object or artwork.
- dark ✓
- medium
True or False? Shading in one direction helps avoid uneven marks and creates smoother transitions.
- True ✓
- False
Which material is best for creating fine details when drawing a tonal study of a sculpture?
- A thick, blunt pencil
- A sharp pencil ✓
- Crayons
Which of these is the best way to create a smooth tonal gradient?
- Using heavy, dark pencil lines
- Layering light strokes and blending gradually ✓
- Leaving areas unshaded

Worksheet

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Presentation

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Lesson Details

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

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.

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