How to Draw With Realistic Shading

After you have completed a rough sketch of a subject, you will want to shade that subject. To achieve the look of a photo, you can use realistic shading techniques. This type of shading uses four tones to show the darker and lighter parts of the subject based on the light source.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper
• Pencils

1. Draw your sketch and look at the sketch to examine the colors included in it. You will need to develop four tones based on each color you have used in the sketch for your shading.

2. Develop two tones that will be shadows for the sketch. Both of these shades will be darker than the color in the sketch with one shadow being darker than the other.

3. Shade with the dark shadows in the places in the sketch where the light source never reaches. This is where it should be dark or almost dark in the sketch. Use the lighter shadow to shade in the areas where only a small amount of light reaches. Use long dark strokes pressing down with very hard with your pencil for the darker shadow and less intense for the lighter shadow.

4. Come up with two other shades that are lighter than the color on the sketch. The lightest color will be the highlight, and the other color will be the midtone.

5. Use the midtone to shade in the areas where the light source is indirectly shining. The highlight should be applied to the areas where the light source is directly shining. Use light, feathery strokes as you apply the midtone and highlight to your sketch.