I'm just wondering how long it takes to learn how to shade your drawings? I've tried it for several weeks and I'm not seeming to get the hang of it, maybe I'm not doing it right? But I really have no idea where to get more information on learning to shade.
2007-02-24 14:55:20 · 8 answers · asked by Missy 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Drawing & Illustration
It depends on what look you want. Sometimes you can get away with just a little to get a point across other times you may want more.
One of the biggest problems people have when it comes to shading is getting their graydations right. (Going from dark to light and vise-versa) You can practice this just about anywhere, anytime as long as you have something to write with and some paper. Start darker (Press harder) and just start going back and forth going towards you. As you pull back lighten your touch with your pencil. and you will see a difference in your gray scale. Also start lighter and work your way darker. Do this over and over. It's really just scribbles but it will help develope a finer touch.
The key to it is not seeing transitions from one shade to the next. You want to work to the point where it's just a smooth transition from one to the other. Once you feel comfy with that try applying it to simple shapes. cubes, spheres, cones and cylinders. you'll find these shapes or variations of them in just about everything you draw
If you want to get more realistic you can also get different pencils with harder and softer leads. softer leads will be very dark and harder leads will be lighter.
As far as how long it will take that depends on you and how much time you can put into it. But you have to practice.
Hope this helps
2007-02-24 23:34:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It usually doesn't too long to figure out to shade objects, but to get really good at it, it takes practice.
A good idea to work on your shading is to:
1) Fill in an over-all value. If it's more of light, go over the outline with a light shade, and visa verse for darker objects
2) Put a light on your object (Diagonally works the best). Squint at the object to block out colors and just look for darks and lights.
3) Add highlights and darker shadows. Look for brighter areas, then use an eraser to lighten the over-all value. For shading, darken it more. The More shades, the better.
Good luck, You'll get it soon!
2007-02-24 23:22:18 · answer #2 · answered by macloveskingtut 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to get a concept of shading, here's a couple of exercises:
Take a simple object (like a peach) and place a light source (desk lamp, flashlight) at a fixed point. Look at the way the light hits it, how one side is highlighted, and how one side is dark. Note that the transferrence of light to shadow varies gradually. Now, draw the simple outline of that object, and try to shade appropriately. I like to go light to dark, adding shading as I get darker. After you feel comfortable with this, change to a more complex shaped item, and try again. Move the light source, and try again. Best of luck. Remember, the great masters all threw away more art than they ever sold or displayed. Don't expect perfection instantly, or even every time. It takes a lot of time and practice. Best of luck.
2007-02-24 23:04:37 · answer #3 · answered by Mangy Coyote 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Practice makes perfect! After doing a lot of linework, I decided to try shading. You just gotta to find your light sources and whatnot, and experiment, The more you do it, the better you become. Some ways to help may be to go grab a 'How to' book, or heck, even grab a magazine ad page (I use them for inspiration a lot), and look at how the light hits the subjects in them. It'll really help you have a better understanding, and in time, you'll get better and better. Good luck!
2007-02-24 23:00:12 · answer #4 · answered by CitrusDreamer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It comes naturally to me. If you want to learn more about it ask any art teacher/professor if you know any, or study pictures of light shading. It usually either comes naturally, takes a long time to get the hang of, or you just can't do it.
2007-02-24 23:32:32 · answer #5 · answered by lostsanitynreadin 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how long it took me to learn. But that's ht only thing im good at. just go back and forth trying to darken and go light with your pencil. use ur fingers to smudj, that works too :D
2007-02-24 22:59:07 · answer #6 · answered by Nick 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what you have tried so far but here are some sites that might help. I think it is a thing of practice and also having an eye for it.
http://www.learn-to-draw.com/members/drawing-basics/0119.htm
http://www.portrait-artist.org/basics/techniques.html
2007-02-24 22:59:04 · answer #7 · answered by Drocks27 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It took me a whole semester of college to get it the way I wanted it.
2007-02-25 00:47:11 · answer #8 · answered by aysha a 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋