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Ross Cameron

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I'm returning to watercolours after about a 20 yr gap and feel my tones are all over the place. I can't afford professional tuition so does anyone know of any good instructional sites or practice techniques? I've tried google and it's just information overload so I thought i'd ask.. :)
Entwined, abstract

Sandra Kennedy

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Perhaps a good place to start would be to put a work in progress on WIP or Critique, asking specifically about tone? You should get good advice from some of POL's experienced and knowledgeable artists, and it would be relevant to your painting. Love your profile pic!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Try Youtube as well: Alan Owen, Charles Evans, plus many other watercolourists on there with usually good demonstrations. 

Alan Bickley

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Well it’s good that you’ve recognised the issue of tonal values, they can make or break a painting, whatever medium! The good news is that it’s an easy fix, but far too lengthy to go through on this thread. There’s WIP tutorials, well sort of, on the Techniques section on this website, have a look on there as a starting point, under watercolours. I’ve written a feature in the current edition of The Artist magazine which discusses the techniques of Rowland Hilder, a master of tonal values as you probably know. There’s a relatively simple 4-stage demo to follow also, you may find it interesting and even helpful… Also, show us some work on this forum, perhaps a WIP and ask for advice along the way. I’ll always try and be constructive with my suggestions, and there are other members who will also be able to offer advice. Although I appreciate that too much advice from multiple different sources can often be confusing!  So, go ahead and post something and let’s get you on the right track!

Ross Cameron

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Many thanks for your reply Sandra, I'll certainly consider your idea as any help would be welcomed. As for the profile pic, that's Leia my cat. She loves to be involved with anything I'm doing (her paw prints are on more than one painting).

Ross Cameron

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Thank you both Alan and Robert these are great suggestions. This is going to be 'Tone week' for me. I really have to try and get a grip on this and so appreciate any insight.
IMG_6882

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Do post some of your work as it’s definitely easier to help you when we see what you do and don’t bore you with stuff you already know. Certainly follow advice given by Alan and Robert as both are very accomplished artist , other members will also offer sound advice that  can be helpful even if different and of course we all have slight variations in our work and ideas .  Good luck in sifting through the many tutorials on line and find one or two that particular fit your needs but don’t spend hours trawling through them, paint on paper is more important.

Ross Cameron

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Thanks Paul, the next time i start a piece I'll try that. This week I'm just going to practice my tonal value painting before I start another piece. As the saying goes 'colour gets the credit but it's tone that does the work'. So I'm going to deep dive on the subject, it can only help surely?

Alan Bickley

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As I demonstrated in my article, convert your painting to greyscale, that will tell you if you’re on the right track… good luck!

Ross Cameron

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Many thanks Alan.

Edited
by Ross Cameron

Ross Cameron

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So having a go at these tonal studies using copyright free images off the net.. It's not as easy as it looks but hopefully I'm on the right road?

Alan Bickley

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I generally start with my darkest tones, and work back from there. It’s good practice to work in mono, say three tones plus black and the white of the paper. Sharpens up your aerial perspective as well! Even better on a mid-toned paper, it acts as a further tone.

Edited
by Alan Bickley

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