Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
An artist recently asked me: “Why bother toning your canvas if you’re going to cover it with opaque paint anyway?” It’s a great question — and there are five solid reasons (plus a bonus tip) every landscape painter should know.
In this video I cover:
✅ Why a white canvas works against you
✅ How toning helps you judge values accurately
✅ Using under-tones for color harmony and “under-glow”
✅ Eliminating distracting white specks
✅ How a toned canvas inspires bolder painting
🎁 BONUS: The wipe-out method for composing your scene in monochrome
Whether you paint in oils, acrylics, or gouache, toning your canvas is one of the simplest habits that will instantly improve your paintings.
⏱ CHAPTERS
00:00 The Question Every Artist Asks
00:30 Reason 1: Beat the Blank Canvas
01:15 Reason 2: Judge Values Properly
02:08 Reason 3: Color Harmony & Under-Glow
03:52 Reason 4: No More White Speckles
04:45 Reason 5: Momentum & Inspiration
03:00 Bonus: The Wipe-Out Technique
🎨 MORE FROM ME
👉Free Magazine Subscription — https://art.malcolmdewey.art/ArtMagSub
👉 Free course: https://art.malcolmdewey.art/FreeCourse
👉 Blog & gallery: malcolmdeweyfineart.com/painting-course.html
An artist recently asked me: “Why bother toning your canvas if you’re going to cover it with opaque paint anyway?” It’s a great question — and there are five solid reasons (plus a bonus tip) every landscape painter should know.
In this video I cover:
✅ Why a white canvas works against you
✅ How toning helps you judge values accurately
✅ Using under-tones for color harmony and “under-glow”
✅ Eliminating distracting white specks
✅ How a toned canvas inspires bolder painting
🎁 BONUS: The wipe-out method for composing your scene in monochrome
Whether you paint in oils, acrylics, or gouache, toning your canvas is one of the simplest habits that will instantly improve your paintings.
⏱ CHAPTERS
00:00 The Question Every Artist Asks
00:30 Reason 1: Beat the Blank Canvas
01:15 Reason 2: Judge Values Properly
02:08 Reason 3: Color Harmony & Under-Glow
03:52 Reason 4: No More White Speckles
04:45 Reason 5: Momentum & Inspiration
03:00 Bonus: The Wipe-Out Technique
🎨 MORE FROM ME
👉Free Magazine Subscription — https://art.malcolmdewey.art/ArtMagSub
👉 Free course: https://art.malcolmdewey.art/FreeCourse
👉 Blog & gallery: malcolmdeweyfineart.com/painting-course.html
