Help me build the Ultimate Artist's Tool!!!

[Richard Robinson]

I'm building a great artist's painting tool - it's great already but you might have some ideas to make it even better so put your thinking cap on!

Got some ideas to make it better? > Tell Me!

[Dennis Clark]

I have only used this tool in the studio situation and not yet outdoors.As soon as I have a chance I will do some experimenting. I will have to make a new tonal strip as I have already packed mine prior to moving to NZ. To try and find it now would be a mission! Maybe we could put our heads together and come up with something good when I arrive.

[Richard Robinson]

Thanks Dennis. I've been using the very same tool as you, but I found that when painting outdoors it doesn't work so well. You'll know that when you tilt the angle of your value strip in front of you all the values will change depending on where the sun is. That makes it very tricky to use accurately. Have you found a way to overcome this?

[Dennis Clark]

I have something similar that I use. It is in the form of a card strip about 45mm wide and approx 200 long. on it is a tonal chart ranging from deep black to pure white in 10 blocks. In the middle of each block I have punched a hole of roughly 12mm dia. When this chart is placed over the area to be examined one can get a fairly accurate idea of the tonal value.

[Richard Robinson]

Thanks Karen - I'll put that in the list of probables. And thanks for all your input into this site too - nice to see.

[Karen]

Great idea! I'd like a ruler on the back along one side, and a color checker around the other three edges (with paint color names).

[Gregory Becker]

By th way I love the front side of your invention.

[Gregory Becker]

I posted a pic on my page.

[Richard Robinson]

I like that too, but I worry about the hole being to small to support it - will make a mockup and try it out.

[Gregory Becker]

The fourth hole could be used as a tone finder with a seamless gradation around the hole. That way it could be used to find the tone and the color. The tone of something would disappear at some point in the gradation and that would reveal a great deal in terms of getting things closer to reality and ultimately a better illusion.

[Richard Robinson]

I like it. Looking forward to the pic.