How to Improve Your Drawings With Tonal Contrast

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Take a pencil and paper (preferably a grade 2B or 3B pencil

   )
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   Step 2: and good cartridge paper - but anything will do for the moment - don’t put it off until you can get to the art shop - start now!

   The patch can be as big or small as you like, but something about an inch (2 or 3cms) across is ideal. ,, You’ll need to press harder with the pencil, and probably find yourself holding it differently, for each patch
   - eventually you’ll find you can’t press any harder and you’ll have a patch on the end of the row as dark as it will go.
   
   Now stop! , How many have you got? Probably 8 or
   10. , 2 (yes 2
   - you’ll see why in a minute) and the last, darkest patch, whatever number it ends up with
   - probably 8 or 10 (maybe 9, it doesn’t matter as long as you’ve got a row from lightest to darkest.) , That's why you started a little way in! This is your tone Number
   1. ,, You’ve made a Tonal Scale! So what has this to do with your drawing?
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   Step 3: Hold your pencil as loosely as you can and

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   Step 4: starting a little way in - an inch (3cms) or so - from the left-hand edge

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   Step 5: make a small patch on the paper

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   Step 6: as lightly and softly as possible - just let the pencil use its own weight.

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   Step 7: Next to this patch

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   Step 8: make another - but this time use just a little more pressure

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   Step 9: to make a very slightly darker patch.

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    Step 10: Continue making these patches

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    Step 11: in a row

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    Step 12: each one slightly darker than the last

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    Step 13: until you find you can’t make one any darker - you can go back over the patches if necessary.

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    Step 14: Look at what you now have - a row of patches

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    Step 15: each one darker than the last.

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    Step 16: Number the patches

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    Step 17: making the first

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    Step 18: lightest patch No.

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    Step 19: Go back to the beginning of the scale

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    Step 20: and draw just a circle

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    Step 21: or a square

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    Step 22: so you’ve got a patch of pure white paper inside it.

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    Step 23: The row should look something like this:

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    Step 24: Congratulations!

Detailed Guide

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