I am a magician, because I can create illusions. I can do that by varying my intensity (think pencil pressure and gradation). I can make depth happen in a photo by my distribution of darks and lights or in an elegant charcoal drawing by delicate shading. As tone, I make things interesting and give them form or depth.
I am a help to texture, because I beckon viewers to look closer at its surface.
I am a blend of the darks, the lights, and the in-betweens. I am multiple values and can suggest entire scenes by repeating dots or repeating planes of different value (think of Georges Seurat’s pointillism or mosaics). Or I can flow through watercolors or oils in varied brushstrokes and leave light, middle, or dark tones behind. You can see my tonal talent in the apple drawing above.
Smear a line or plane to create soft tone through changed density. Make it more distinct by using sharp edges as the values change–such as in a tessellation or mosaic. Tone is a way to describe things with subtlety or drama.
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Nerd Alert: Below, is a philosophical discussion about how Tone sees itself in relation to Line and Plane.
Tone: ”The other day I was thinking that Line and Plane were perfectly compatible with each other, and it was sad that, as Tone, my only purpose was to adorn or decorate them. (However, that is my main talent.) So, feeling under-appreciated, I went off to indulge in a bit of stubborn sulking.
I thought about the scope of my duties. How I would bring multiple values (gradation) to Line, and then join it in its concept of narrowness. And I would bring multiple values (gradation) to Plane, and join Plane in its concept of occupying area. It was much like a symbiotic relationship–myself with the two of them! When I was with Line, Line was perceived as tonal, not solid; and likewise, when I was with Plane, Plane was perceived as tonal, not solid.
In my sulking, I stood before my mirror and made an attempt to reinvent myself, but it didn’t work–because in the end, I was still just a bundle of values with no purpose. I had to admit that Line and Plane gave deep meaning to my existence.
Plane noticed my mood and came over to whisper in my ear that Line had been looking for me. Plane said they both felt delighted whenever I joined them because they received so many compliments on their appearance and they wanted to throw me a party to celebrate my wonderful influence.
Well, that was the end of my moodiness! I went off to contemplate my wardrobe–to decide which of my four surfaces to wear to the party: Reflection, Opacity, Translucency, or Transparency–and which three enrichments I should apply to my chosen surface: Color, pattern, or texture.
It would be dazzling. I would be charming–I would be the life of the party. It suddenly occurred to me–that had been my calling, all along. So, I looked at the presence in the mirror with renewed purpose and proposed a toast: Here’s to the grand influencer of Line and Plane—TONE the magnificent!“
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Tone refines and enhances. It’s about density or depth created through dark, middle, and light values. It can help Line and Plane describe things with more detail or help them create special affects.