SPEED DRAWING
SHADING EXPLAINED
In a pencil drawing shading is used to bring the artwork to life.
Shading is what gives the flat paper a three-dimensional effect.
Therefore it is vital that every artist learn the proper techniques of
shading if their drawing is to have a realistic quality to it.
There are basically five tones to shading:
- Blacks
- Dark Grays
- Middle Grays
- Lights
- Whites
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But if you want the drawing to depict a pastel or faded image you will use fewer blacks and more light grays. Most drawings have a balance of shades and tones so you will probably find that you are using all tones about equally in every drawing. Don’t be afraid to use black.
Pupils should always be done in black. If a person has black hair you will use black to depict that. A common mistake is for a beginner to neglect to use enough blacks and dark grays.
Areas that are shaded or in shadows should be expressed with the use of blacks or dark grays. In addition to pupils and black hair this will include corners of the mouth, nostrils, under the chin on the neck and shadowed parts of the eyebrows.
Medium darks are used primarily in shadowed areas of the face. An artist learns to build up the darkness in the darker areas until the desired effect is achieved. Medium tones are usually used in a transition from a dark area to a lighter area. This helps to make the effect more smooth and gradual which results in a blended and more natural look. Most drawings will have many gray areas of varying degrees of intensity.
The light tones are used in areas that are lighted or highlighted. It is a common mistake made by many new artists to pay little attention to the variations in these areas. Upon close look you will see there are indeed light and lighter tones which should be rendered in a drawing.
Any white areas should be highlighted or surrounded by a light gray. Smooth transitions lend an air of realness. As you experiment more and more with tones and shading you will find that all five tones are essential to a realistic drawing. In the end your creations will seem to have a life of their own.