How to Add Shading to Drawings

Shading adds dimension and a realistic touch to your drawings. It is created by using pencil strokes and smudging in strategic places on your subject to show lighting and shape. It is the key to avoiding flat, shapeless drawing. These tips will show you how to use shading properly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pencil
• Paper

1. Determine where your light source is. Where the light would hit the subject the most is where the least shading will be.

2. Add dark shading to the area farthest away from the light source. A simple way to add shading is to use the side of your pencil tip. Rub the pencil along the area you want to shade and then smudge the marks towards the light source with you finger. This will make the marks go from dark to light as they get closer to the light source.

3. 
    
   Shading Example

   Another way to add shading is to draw lighter and lighter lines as you get closer to the light source. This is shown in the example.

4. 
    
   Shape Shading Example

   Shading should curve around the object to show it's shape. The example shows how shading can be used to curve around shapes. In this case, the hood has shading that is very dark by the shoulder because it is farthest away from the light source. It curves around the the hood, getting lighter as it gets closer to the light source and then vanishes.

Tips & Warnings

• Lines can be smudged with paper stumps.
• Use softer pencils for shading.
• Don't add too much shading. Place shading in strategic places to show shape and light.

Resources

• Using Light in Your Artwork

[Colonna]

on 9/27/2009 nice job. you should also mention that you can smudge with your finger, a piece of tissue, a slightly damp brush for a wash effect, or you can also use an eraser to create the illusion of a "hot spot" or a reflection.Nice job, though.