The power of Tonal Studies and the practice of looking

giving yourself time to look and truly see

Imagine the rush of creativity that flows through you as you stand in awe of a breathtaking landscape or architectural marvel. The urge to create is overwhelming, but by taking just a moment to truly observe the details can lead to success with a deeply inspired artwork.

Many of us when inspired will pause briefly, take a few photos, and aim to capture the feeling, light, and magic of a place. We are hoping that this quick moment will translate into the enchantment we experienced and create a work of art, or better still a masterpiece!

I know for me that with careful observation of light and shadow in a scene, I am better able to capture what inspires me and convey it through my painting. This initial study serves as a blueprint for my artwork and helps me to see before dedicating lots of time and effort to a detailed painting. At this stage I may even decide that I need to visit a place again with different weather conditions to make what I want to say work. 

what's unfolding here?

The idea of tonal studies is not new, in fact if you look at great masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Caravaggio you will see their light and shadow paintings have been well informed by preliminary tonal studies, as such mastery does not happen by accident.

By immersing ourselves in the art of analysis, we allow ourselves to delve deeper into the intricacies of our surroundings and form a strong bond with the world around us. Engaging in a tonal study helps me see a scene more clearly and deeply, leading to a higher quality painting. It can be the difference between mediocre and masterpiece. 

Try it for yourself

Take a moment to immerse yourself in the process by sitting down to create a quick 10-15 minute sketch. You'll be amazed at how much you really see and can improve with the practice of looking and recording via tonal studies. 

Good luck and let me know how you go!

The painting used in this article is titled "rain over the mountain range" Details 11x14" oil on canvas panel, completed 2025. You can see more information and photos of this painting which may still be available for purchase via the link or navigate to my gallery judithrose.art