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6 ways to add dark and light values to your art to make it pop
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Shading creates the illusion of depth in your drawing by adding dark shadows and bright highlights. When you want to add more contrast to your drawings or make them appear 3D, different shades help you achieve a realistic look. If you’re just learning how to draw or it’s just been a while since you last sketched, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn how to shade in any object you’re drawing and what mark-making techniques you can try out on your next piece.
Things You Should Know
- Mark the direction of the light source in your drawing on your paper. Add a light value with the side of your pencil across your drawing for light- and mid-tones.
- Darken the core shadow where the light source ends by applying more pressure with your pencil. Lessen the pressure to make smooth transitions between values.
- Use an eraser to lighten areas with bright highlights closest to the light source. Add a dark drop shadow underneath the object to make it 3-dimensional.
Steps
Section 1 of 2:
Shading Objects in a Drawing
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Shade in a value scale from light to dark on a piece of paper. Draw a long rectangle and sketch in lines to separate it into 7–10 equally-shaped blocks. Shade the block on one side of the rectangle as dark as you can to use for the deepest shadows. Then, color in the next block so it has a value, or shade, that’s slightly lighter than the first. Make each block progressively lighter until you reach the other end of the rectangle. Leave the last block empty to use as the brightest highlights in your drawing. [1] X Research source
- Making a value scale before you start shading your drawing helps you visualize the range of tones you’re able to add to your art.
- When you’re first putting in the darkest tone, apply the most pressure with your pencil or drawing tool. As you work to lighter shades, gradually reduce the amount of pressure you apply so you’re not pressing so hard against the paper. That way, your transitions between shades will be smoother and more consistent.
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Mark the direction of the light source on your paper. The position of the light source determines where the darkest shadows and the brightest highlights appear on the object you’re shading. Draw an arrow or a small sun where the light source appears in your drawing. The side of the object closest to the light source will be brighter and have highlights, while the furthest side will have darker shadows. [2] X Research source- Try working from real life or a photograph to visualize how light affects the shading of the object you’re drawing. If you set up a still life, move lights around to see how the areas of light and shadow change.
- If you’re drawing from your imagination, choose a focal point in your drawing for the highlights. People looking at your drawing are typically drawn to the lightest areas.
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Apply light pressure with your pencil to create a base layer of shading. If you’re shading with graphite, start with a soft 4B pencil to create a middle shade. [3] X Expert Source Kelly Medford
Professional Artist Expert Interview. 10 March 2021 Hold the pencil on its side, and move your elbow or shoulder rather than your wrist to lay down the shading in long strokes with a smooth transition. [4] X Research source- Avoid pressing too hard with the tip of your pencil because it will make your marks more difficult if you want to adjust the values later on.
- Rest your drawing hand on a separate piece of paper while you’re shading to prevent any accidental smudges on your drawing.
- If you’re using ink or a permanent medium, then avoid shading in the areas closest to the light source for now.
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Shade in the object’s core shadow with the darkest value. Draw dotted lines coming from your light source to the edges of the object you’re shading. The core shadow is the darkest shade, and it forms a darker band where the light source intersects the edges. Press slightly harder with your pencil to add in the darkest value, following the contours of the object so it looks three-dimensional. [5] X Research source
- Rounded shapes like spheres have reflected shadows on the side furthest from the light source. Leave a thin strip of slightly lighter shadows along the opposite edge of the object.
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Lighten areas closest to the light source with an eraser. Work gently with your eraser to lighten the areas in layers to develop a smooth transition from light to dark. Apply light pressure to transition smoothly from the mid-tone shade to a lighter tone. Where the highlights are most intense closest to the light source, erase all your pencil marks to reveal the paper underneath for the brightest value. [6] X Research source
- To really make your highlights pop, use a white pencil or pastel to make solid areas of white.
- If you’re drawing objects with a metallic finish, make the highlight brighter than if you were drawing something with a matte finish.
- Use a clickable eraser to erase small detailed areas for highlighting things like wrinkles or creases in clothing.
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Add a drop shadow under the object to give the drawing more depth. Continue the dotted lines from your light source past the edges of the object until they intersect the surface below it to find the edges of your drop shadow. Sketch in the rough shape of your shadow with the side of your pencil and shade it in. Use the darkest values just below the object, and smoothly transition to lighter shade toward the edges. [7] X Research source
- The hardness of the drop shadow’s outline depends on the strength of your light source. Brighter lights create a harder edge while dim lights make the edges look softer.
- Look at a reference photograph or a still-life to see how the light angle affects the drop shadow.
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Get a smooth finish by blending your marks with a smudge stick . Mix your values together, working from the lightest part of your drawing to the darkest. Rub your shading with the side of the smudge stick to create smooth transitions between the different values. If you need to blend tight, detailed spaces, then use the tip of the smudge stick. [8] X Research source
- If you don’t have a smudge stick, then try blending with a paintbrush or with a paper towel.
- Avoid using your fingers to blend your drawings. Your finger isn’t as precise as a smudge stick and the oils from your skin could leave marks on your drawing over time.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I shade basic forms?Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.There are a variety of techniques you can use, but hatching and cross-hatching are very popular to try.
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QuestionWhat can I use to shade drawings?Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.Use the side of a soft 4B pencil if you want smooth, uniform shading in your drawing.
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QuestionIs there a way to shade on drawing apps that don't use layers?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can shade drawings all on the same layer, but it will also affect the line drawing you've made.
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Tips
- Practice shading simple shapes like cones, cubes, cylinders, and spheres. These shapes are the building blocks of other objects you’ll draw, so perfecting them now makes complicated shapes much easier to shade in the future.Thanks
- Charcoal and graphite are the easiest media to work with if you’re trying to get a smooth blended finish. Pens, markers, and ink are best shaded with a form of hatching.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- When shading with pencil or ink, work from left to right if you're right-handed; this way you won't accidentally smudge your hard work with your hand. If you're left-handed, work from right to left.
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Things You’ll Need
- Paper
- 4B art pencil
- Eraser
- White pencil or pastel
- Clickable eraser
- Smudge stick
References
- ↑ https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/Shades-and-Shadows.pdf
- ↑ https://www.math.brown.edu/tbanchof/DrawingTutorial/3dshading.html
- ↑ Kelly Medford. Professional Artist. Expert Interview. 10 March 2021
- ↑ https://www.designreview.byu.edu/collections/learn-to-sketch-shading-and-shadowing-cylinders
- ↑ https://arb.umn.edu/blog/2020/05/28/kids-activity-shadow-drawing
- ↑ https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/Shades-and-Shadows.pdf
- ↑ https://und.edu/academics/online/enroll-anytime/art230.html
- ↑ https://www.strujillo.ca/uploads/2/9/2/4/29246107/gtglightandshadowpart2.pdf
- ↑ Kelly Medford. Professional Artist. Expert Interview. 10 March 2021
- ↑ https://isfdn.org/core/files/isfdn/uploads/files/HatchingCrosshatchingFINAL.pdf
- ↑ Kelly Medford. Professional Artist. Expert Interview. 10 March 2021
- ↑ https://isfdn.org/core/files/isfdn/uploads/files/HatchingCrosshatchingFINAL.pdf
- ↑ https://www.everettsd.org/cms/lib/WA01920133/Centricity/Domain/1174/drawing%20activity%20cards.pdf
- ↑ Kelly Medford. Professional Artist. Expert Interview. 10 March 2021
- ↑ https://artprojectsforkids.org/how-to-blend-colors/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92hOUw1elLo
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To shade drawings, start by deciding where the light is coming from in your drawing so you know where the shadows and highlights will fall. Then, lightly shade in your entire drawing to create a base layer of shading. Next, go back and heavily shade the parts of your drawing that are hidden from the light so they're the darkest. Finally, erase the parts of your drawing that the light is directly shining on to create white highlights. To learn different shading techniques you can use, like cross-hatching, keep reading!
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- "This article really helped me, it told me as much as I wanted to know. As an amateur 'artist' I've always loved art and would say that I am commonly quite good at sketching but never quite got the hang of shading or knew how to. This has really helped me understand it and by doing this I can develop as an artist, and I know that shading is a very important part in art, it gives it depth and tone and it definitely improves your drawing. So thank you for the article. It really helped me!" ..." more
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"This article really helped me, it told me as much as I wanted to know. As an amateur 'artist' I've always loved art and would say that I am commonly quite good at sketching but never quite got the hang of shading or knew how to. This has really helped me understand it and by doing this I can develop as an artist, and I know that shading is a very important part in art, it gives it depth and tone and it definitely improves your drawing. So thank you for the article. It really helped me!"
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"I have been trying to learn to shade for years but for some reason I just can't seem to grab the concept. This seems very easy to understand. I'm going to try it and will let you know how I do! Thank you for the simple explanation!"
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"I read this article for a quick refresher on shading techniques. I have been using colored pencils & brush markers & I get great looking flowers."
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