on shading?

Question

well im still on the beginner level of drawing. im working on shading...my teacher said i lack control...some seem to have it naturally...what are some techniques or practices you can suggest?

Answer 1

I'm unsure exactly what area you're weak in shading, but try different approaches.

1. Watch how the natural or artificial light casts shadows of objects and what features are lighter than others.

2. Lacking control or not understanding the science of shade? Every object, ridge, hill, blemish, body, and protuberance creates shadow. Learn to analyze how the dark and the light interact and begin to draw any animate or inanimate object you find that shows shades of light and darkness.

I'm also unsure if the above advice is helpful for you because your problem isn't defined.

Answer 2

To shading you must understand how shades are generated.

There is a light source or sources. Beginners start with one light source either.

The part that light illuminates do not get the shade, but the opposite does.

Also some shades are stronger than others. The stronger shades use say 4 pencil marks and the weaker only one.

Also parts near the base or floor tend to have stronger shade.

Answer 3

If you are drawing people or other "real life" things, are you using a reference photo? A good clear one will usually help alot. It's like a blueprint, try not to think of it as cheating.

Also, start with light pressure on your pencil to build up dark shaded areas instead of jumping right into a heavy dark line. That way if you don't like what you see you can go back and erase easily.

Answer 4

Look at real things: like turn a lamp on and study something for a moment, then try and copy it. You might search photos or other pictures to see where the shading falls, or look at real objects throughout your day and notice the detail in where the light hits and where it's shady. Hope this helps.....