'Tonal Value'

Petronella van Leusden's workshop (late 2025) was about one of those core art topics - tonal value. Petronella led the group through structured exercises to help everyone experiment with value and tonal thinking and, most importantly, how to find correct tonal value with the pastel medium.

Petronella demonstrated that objects can be drafted using tone on is own to reveal dimension. This was followed by introduction to the '5 lights of nature' - specular highlight, diffused highlight, shaded side, reflected light, and cast shade - revealing how light also has dimension. Who knew?

Use of value and tonal sheets were also very useful, allowing the group to learn and experiment with pastels to build their knowledge and skills with tonal range. Petronella emphasised that, to create the illusion of 3D, you need at least three tones: tones create the illusion, and colour is the icing on top!

Participants then completed their own projects, to set up and paint a still life with the information learned thus far. Petronella stressed that composition is critical, so everyone spent time carefully setting up to focus on composition, light, texture, and colour. All manner of setups appeared, from cardboard boxes to well-designed still life 'kits'. A single light source was used to ensure that tone was to be the most important element. Every corner of the art society room was deployed for a fun, instructive, and thoroughly engaging workshop.