If something's not quite right in a painting, check the tones you've used in the areas of light and the areas of shadow. Do you have shadows that are lighter in tone than the darkest light you've used? Or put the other way, do you have areas of light that are darker than some of your shadows?

Check if you've balanced your lights and darks accurately according to tone. And remember that tone is relative to what's around it. Find out why tone is so crucial to a painting...

See Also:
• What Colors are Shadows?
• Cast Shadows and Form Shadows