Shading Basic Shapes Part 2

Supplies:

 

• Two pieces of paper
• Ruler
• Set of sketch pencils
• Kneaded eraser
• Something Square
• Something Triangular

 

 

 

 

Let’s start with the square. Taking one of your pieces of paper, trace your square object.

Now, using your ruler, draw a line through your square about seven eights to the right.

Fill in this portion of your square with even lines, making sure not to go over the line.

With your Tortillion blend out this side of your square and add a darker line to the top to add more dimension.

 

Draw a line behind your square like you did with the circle, and add a cast shadow.

Blend out the cast shadow with your tortillion

Now you have completed your square. You can add a little shading around the edges of the part you left white, but if you do don’t round your shading. Make sure to keep the lines straight, as squares aren’t rounded.

 

 

Triangle

 

Taking your second piece of paper, trace your triangular object. If you don’t have anything like this, you can also use a ruler to make your triangle.

 

Starting at the point of your triangle, draw a diagonal line until it looks like a pyramid.

 

Draw straight diagonal lines into this space, creating the shadow.

Blend out the shadow, making it smooth.

Draw a straight line behind your triangle using your ruler, and add the cast shadow.

Blend out your cast shadow until smooth, as with the square, you can also add some shading to the whit part of the triangle, giving it more dimension. I did it with this one.

 

I apologize for my pictures not being as good as they could be. But I had to do this one in a hurry since I’ve been busy with end of the school year grading and credits. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

In my next one I’ll be showing you how to draw and shade the nose at different angles. Have fun!

Shading Basic Shapes - Part One

 

Supplies:

 

• Piece of paper
• Set of sketch pencils
•   Tortillion
• Ruler
• Kneaded eraser
• Circular object, (I used a cup)

 

 

 

 

First you start out by tracing your circular object to create a perfect circle.

 

 

Then, taking your ruler, draw two straight lines on either side of the circle. This is your tabletop.

 

Next you can draw a little sun in the top right hand corner of your paper. This is where the light source will be coming from, and it will be there as a reminder for you. This step is optional, and you don’t really have to do it.

 

Taking your pencil (you can use 2B), draw in the cast shadow around the bottom of the circle. Be sure to make it darker on the opposite side of your little ‘sun’ as this is where there is the most shadow.

 

 

 

Next, use your Tortillion to blend out the shadows, making the lines even and smooth.

 

 

Now, using your pencil again, draw out a crescent shape on the left side of your circle. This is the shadow.

 

 

Now, blend out your shadow being sure to create a halftone above your crescent shape. Now your circle should have some depth and look like a sphere.

 

Shade your circle some more, but keep the center and part of the top clear from shading. This is the where the light hits the sphere directly, so it needs to stay completely white.

 

 

 

Be sure to create some reflected light, you can’t really see it in my picture (seeing as it’s not very good). Now you have combined the basic shading technique and the value scale to create a realistic looking sphere!

Keep practicing this until you can get it right. Trust me, it helps. Part two of this tutorial will show you how to shade other basic shapes to make them look three-dimensional. Always be sure to have fun drawing!

Shading Value Scale Tutorial

I know this isn't exactly the next tutorial that I promised, but as I was working on that one I realized that this had to come first. As you will see at the end of this post, the shading value scale is really important to realistically drawing.

Here is a list of supplies,

Supplies

• Set of sketch pencils
• Piece of paper
• Ruler
• Tortillon (optional)
• Kneaded Eraser

Start by drawing a line of five one-inch squares on your piece of paper using a ruler and 2B pencil.

Taking your 6B pencil, fill in the fist square until it is black. This is the first value on the shading scale.

 

 

With your 4B pencil, fill in the second square until it is a dark gray. This is the second value on the shading scale.

 

 

 

With your 2B pencil, fill in the third square creating a medium gray. This is the third value.

 

 

 

With your HB pencil, fill in the fourth square creating a light gray. This, as you might have guessed, is the fourth value. The last square you will leave white, as white is the fifth value on the shading scale.

 

 

This next step is optional. With your tortillion shade in the squares (separately) so that the pencil strokes are evened out and the colors appear smoother.

 

 

 

When you are finished, label each of the squares with their appropriate names.

 

Now you have completed your shade value scale! This scale is very important and will come in handy for the beginner who is first learning to shade.

Your probably wondering why in the world this scale is important. Well, there are five “elements” that go into shading. You will be able to see a representation of this in my next tutorial about shading basic shapes. But, first let me explain what each value is used as.

1. Black – this is found where in the cast shadow of an object.
2. Dark Gray – this is the shadow on an object and is always found on the opposite side of the object where the light is coming from.

3.     Medium Gray – this is called the halftone because it not light, and it’s not dark either. Basically, it’s the middle ground of shading, locked in between the light side and the dark side.

4.     Light Gray – this is the hardest of the elements to see when working on an object. But, it is also the most important one to need to have in your artwork. It’s called, reflected light. Explanation: reflected light is the light that bounces up onto the object from whatever it’s on, and all of the light behind it. Reflected light separates shadows from cast shadows.

5.     White – this is the full light area. This is where light lands the strongest on an object, and so, the white of the paper is left fully exposed.

 

Each value is important to making your drawings look real. I can’t stress that enough. Without these five basic values, your artwork would look flat and unrealistic. So, now that you know that, it’s time for me to get to work completing my shading basic shapes tutorial!

 

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there!

This drawing I did was for one special mamma!

... and don't worry, that tutorial will be coming soon :)