Most art schools and painting courses primarily teach how to draw shadows. The construction and drawing of such primitive figures as a cylinder, ball, cone, cube is a rather tedious and uninteresting thing. However, precisely such tasks are the first step towards understanding the shape and volume of the geometric shape, as well as to the ability to depict its dark and light sides - that is, to the ability to draw shadows with a pencil in stages. In further artistic practice, the ability to correctly feel the dark and light sides will be a good help in any drawing.
If you want to make a sketch visual and realistic, you need to give it volume. In this article we will tell you how to draw shadows with a pencil correctly.
Light and shadow
Drawings should be realistic and pleasing to the eye. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly combine light and shadow in them. This will give the drawings contrast, depth and a sense of movement. How to learn to draw shadows to make drawings look more lively, attractive and interesting?
Bit of theory
Have you ever thought about what allows us to see the shape of objects? Let's reveal a secret: this is a collision of light and shadow. If we put an object on a table in a room with no windows and turn off the light, then we will not see any shape. If you illuminate the subject with a very bright lamp or spotlight, then its shape, again, we will not see. It allows you to see only the light that collides with the shadow.
Neither light nor shadow falls on objects at random. There are certain patterns. They suggest that the light will be located on the object, on its forms, and where the shadow will begin. And the drawing person needs to know these patterns.
Elements of chiaroscuro
In drawing, the following elements of chiaroscuro are distinguished: flare, light, partial shade, own shadow, reflex and falling shadow. Let's consider each of them in order.
A glare is a spot of light that is located on a convex or flat glossy surface and is obtained due to the strong illumination of the object.
Light is the surface of an object that is brightly lit.
Penumbra is called a faint shadow. It occurs if the subject is illuminated not by one but by several light sources. In addition, it forms on surfaces that face at a slight angle to the light source.
A shadow is those areas of the subject that are poorly lit. A falling shadow is the one that the object casts onto the plane on which it stands. And his own - the one that is on his unlit side.
Reflex is called a weak spot of light, which is located in the shadow area. It is formed by rays that are reflected from other objects nearby.
The image of these light gradations allows the artist to visualize on the sheet the shape of the object, to convey its volume and degree of illumination.
Do these rules work for computer graphics?
Yes. Computer graphics are the same drawing. Therefore, how to draw shadows in AIS or Photoshop, does not differ at all from the image of them on paper. The whole theory and all the rules that work for the image on canvas or paper are also valid for the computer.
Step 1: choosing the right materials
How to draw shadows with a pencil? First of all, you need to choose the right pencil. Of course, you can draw shadows with charcoal, and sanguine, and gouache, and acrylic. But at first it’s better to limit yourself to a pencil.
For shadows, special pencils are used for drawing. They are sold in sets. The budget option can be found in any office supply store. There is a special paper for drawing: it is better to choose a thicker and more rigid.
There are many varieties of pencils for drawing. There is with a soft (M, 2M, 3M, ..., 8M, 9M) stylus, and there is with a solid (T, 2T, 3T, ..., 8T, 9T). In sets of foreign manufacturers, M is replaced by B, and T by H.
To display the shadows, a set of 3T, 2T, T, TM, M, 2M and 3M will be enough for you. For the image of light it is better to use hard pencils, and for the shadow - soft ones. So the picture will look more natural and it will be easier to draw.
Let's talk about paper. Too smooth sheets, those on which we print, will not work. Do not use too hard paper. It will be difficult to draw shadows on it. It is best to use special drawing sheets, which are sold in a folder in office supplies. How to draw shadows? First of all, get the right materials.
Step Two: Linear Sketch
How to draw shadows in a picture? First make a linear sketch of what you want to draw. It is advisable to do this from nature, but you can use a photograph of the object. The most important thing is that the object you have selected is stationary. In this case, you will have a lot of time to sketch it.
Take a close look at your home environment. You can draw flowers, watches, kitchen utensils, garments. All of these are great objects for sketching.
If you use a photograph, it is best to print it in black and white. So you will be able to more accurately depict the outline and shadows.
Step 3: achromatic colors
How to draw shadows? When working with a pencil, all achromatic colors are at your disposal . They begin with white and end with black, having several shades of gray in the middle.
How to create an achromatic scale? Draw a rectangle: this can be done on a separate sheet of paper or in the corner of your drawing. Divide this rectangle into five equal parts (as many as possible, but 5 will be enough for a start), then number them.
The very first square will be white, and the last black. The parts between them need to be painted over with three different shades of gray, dividing them by tone. As a result, you will get something like the palette of your pencil: the first rectangle is white, the second is light gray, the third is medium gray, the fourth is dark gray and the last is the darkest tone that a pencil can give.
Step 4: Theory of Shadows
How to draw a shadow? To do this, understand their nature.
Find the main light source. Observe that the lightest are often closest to the light, darkest are farthest, and shadows fall against it. Particular attention should be paid to reflections, as they may be the brightest spot of the object selected for drawing.
Step 5: choose a hatching method
How to draw a shadow? By hatching. It is laid over a pencil sketch.
Choose the way that you will hatch the sketch, depending on the object itself, the light source and the type of drawing. There are many types of hatching shadows, and the most popular of them are straight, circular and cross.
A straight line is called drawing a set of parallel lines as close to each other as possible. This method is perfect for objects without texture and for drawing hair.
For circular hatching, you need to draw a lot of small circles. Using this shading, you can create an interesting texture by scattering circles and complementing them with lines. In addition, you can more clearly show the density of the object that you are depicting by placing the circles close to each other.
Tinted objects by drawing intersecting lines are cross hatching. This method is great for adding depth to the picture.
Step 6: Pen Test
Try making shadows. Since your drawing is still at the initial stage, you should not make them too dark. So you can easily erase them, if necessary. Draw, gradually filling in the places you need, and leave the brightest places white.
In the process of drawing, compare the work with the object or its photo to be sure that you put the shadow in the right place.
Step 7: Patience and Milestone
Add shadows to multiple layers. They must be gradually darkened, applying layer by layer. There should be a noticeable contrast between dark and light places. Do not forget to use the achromatic scale: the picture should not be in the same gray tones.
There is no need to rush. The process of hatching shadows resembles the manifestation of a black and white film: it should occur gradually. Patience is your key to success and beautiful designs.
The more you deepen the shadows in the picture, the less noticeable will be its contours. And this is correct, because in real life almost nothing has a black outline. The same should be reflected in your drawing.
Step 8: Shadow Shading
Now blend the shadows in your drawing. It is necessary to make them more realistic and smooth. It is necessary to control the pressure so that it is not too strong and too weak. Blend until satisfied with the result.
If you don’t have shading, you can use a small piece of paper. The eraser will help you to highlight those places that you accidentally smeared. This can be a glare, or a path that is not completely hidden under the hatching layer.
Most importantly, remember that most of the people who draw, including the most famous artists, made mistakes at the initial stage of their creative path.
Tips & Tricks
- Between your hand and the paper on which you are drawing, you can put a blank sheet of printing paper: this way you can avoid stains in the drawing.
- In order not to stain the sketch and correct errors, it is better to use a vinyl eraser. Erasers made of this material do not spoil the paper and erase pencil marks well.
- Do not use your finger to blend the hatch.
- To make the difference between light and shadow more noticeable, you need to use good lighting.
- It is better to hold the pencil at a smaller angle to the plane of the paper in order to draw with the stylus side, and not its tip. So the shadows will turn out more natural.