Visual Arts Topic
Shading from Observation
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Study focus - 3 things
- Shading from observation means using light and dark tones based on what you see
- Look for the light source, highlights, mid-tones, core shadows, and cast shadows
- Gradual tone changes can make objects look three-dimensional
Section 1What shading does
Shading uses tones to show light, shadow, and form. It helps a flat drawing look more three-dimensional. The thing to remember is that shading should follow what you see, not random dark patches.
Section 2Light source
The light source is where the light comes from. The side facing the light is usually lighter, and the side away from the light is darker. Watch out: if shadows point in different directions, the drawing can look confusing.
Section 3Types of tone
A highlight is the lightest area. A mid-tone is between light and dark. A core shadow is the darker area on the object, and a cast shadow is the shadow the object makes on another surface.
Section 4Shading control
Use pencil pressure, layering, hatching, cross-hatching, or blending to control tone. Here's the trick: build tone gradually instead of pressing hard immediately. A shaded drawing of a lime or mango can show roundness through smooth changes from light to dark.
Examples
A ball has light coming from the left. Where should the darker shading usually go?
The darker shading should usually go on the side away from the light, so the right side would be darker.
You are shading a mango from observation. What should you look for before darkening the drawing?
Look for the light source, highlight, mid-tones, core shadow, and cast shadow. Then build tones gradually.
Now let's water it
Session runs notes to flashcards to quiz back-to-back.