This Art and design video provides an overview of Kapow Primary’s Year 4 Painting and mixed media: Light and dark unit. Teachers are introduced to the key knowledge and skills children will develop as they explore how artists use tone to create depth, form, contrast and emotion in their work.

Using still life as a context for learning, children investigate how light and dark areas can change the appearance of objects and create the illusion of three dimensions. Throughout the unit, they experiment with mixing tints and shades using black and white paint, developing their understanding of how tone can be used to create realistic and expressive effects.

The video also explores the impact of a light source on a still life arrangement and highlights other important artistic elements, including contrast, balance, shape and colour. Through observation, experimentation and discussion, pupils build confidence in making thoughtful artistic choices.

By the end of the unit, children will have developed the knowledge and skills needed to use tone purposefully in their own paintings, creating artwork with greater depth, form and visual impact.

Explore the accompanying Year 4 Painting and mixed media: Light and dark resources.

• Year 4 Art and design scheme of work