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Writer's pictureCharlotte

How to improve your shading techniques in 4 steps

Hello guys!

How are you all today? Great I hope.


Today we will be exploring shading techniques. Here are five steps to help you improve your shading and take your drawings to the next level.


But before we start, I want to tell you that if I don’t post much in these next two months, it’s completely normal because I will be preparing my exams. Wish me luck!

And so, without further ado, let’s get into this post!


1. The first step to improving your shading technique is to understand light sources.

Light sources influence the areas of your drawing that are illuminated and those that are in shadow. To understand light sources better, you have to study the effects of light on objects in the real world.

Observe how a light source creates highlights and shadows on different surfaces. Knowing how to identify light sources in your drawings will help you create more realistic and visually appealing artwork.


2. The second step is to learn how to create a range of values.

Values refer to the range of tones between black and white, including all the gray tones in between. Practice creating smooth transitions between light and dark areas in your drawings. Start by creating a scale of values from white to black using pencils of different shades. Practice creating different values by varying the pressure of your pencil strokes.


3. The third step is to use the right shading techniques.

There are several shading techniques you can use, such as hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, and blending. Each technique creates a unique effect, so experiment with them to find the ones that work best for your drawing.

Hatching and cross-hatching are the most basic techniques and involve creating lines or cross hatching to create different values. Stippling involves creating dots of varying density to create value. Blending involves smoothing out the pencil strokes to create a transition between values.


4. The fourth step is to practice shading different textures.

Different textures require different shading techniques to create a realistic effect. For example, shading a smooth surface, such as glass or metal, requires a different technique than shading a rough surface, such as stone or wood or a textile like silk or jute. Practice shading different textures to learn which technique works best for each texture.


 

This is the end of this post!

Feel free to send me your drawings and art tips by e-mail or in the comments below!


Any questions, suggestions, ideas or feedback? Contact me at sketchbook.draws@protonmail.com or send a message on the contact page of this website. I’ll reply as soon as I can.

See you soon!


@SketchbookDraws


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