REFERENCE PHOTOGRAPH
For this self-portrait I worked from a reference photograph and used a grid initially to work out how best to fit the image onto the canvas. I think carefully about light when taking reference photographs, and like a good amount of tonal contrast to work with
In the first article of this two-part series, I explored how to look for shapes of colour and tone rather than just line when painting a portrait. This time I will discuss how I look for tonal hierarchy in order to create a sense of realism and depth in my work.
What is tonal value and tonal hierarchy?
Quite simply, tonal value is whether something is dark or light and tonal hierarchy is the gradation of different tonal values from dark to light (or light to dark). Capturing light convincingly is one of
