Learn to Draw #03 - Shading Techniques

SchaeferArt
11 Jan 201417:00
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this drawing tutorial, Brandon Shafer demonstrates various shading techniques using simple shapes like spheres, cubes, and cylinders. He emphasizes the importance of light source placement, pressure control, and blending methods, including using blending stumps and cross-hatching, to achieve realistic 3D effects in sketches.

Takeaways
  • 😀 The video is part of a drawing series by Brandon Shafer, focused on teaching various techniques.
  • 🎨 The artist uses 2B and 3B pencils for this particular tutorial, which is about shading techniques.
  • 📐 The tutorial begins with a simple sphere to demonstrate the shading process due to its common difficulty.
  • 🔆 The importance of starting with light pressure and building up to darker shades is emphasized.
  • 👁 The artist explains the concept of value and how it relates to the perception of light and shadow.
  • 👐 Drawing lightly is crucial for the foundation of a sketch, which serves as the 'bones' of the final artwork.
  • 🌗 The video covers how to create shadows, mentioning that they are usually lighter than the object itself.
  • 🖊️ Different shading methods are presented, including using blending stumps and cross hatching.
  • 🔄 The artist encourages practice and experimenting with different pencils and shading techniques.
  • 🌀 Cross hatching is explained as drawing and crossing strokes closer together for darker areas and farther apart for lighter areas.
  • 🎨 The video concludes with a reminder to practice shading from life and to pay attention to the light source for realistic 3D effects.
Q & A

  • What types of pencils does Brandon use in this video?

    -Brandon uses a 2B and a 3B pencil for the shading techniques in this video.

  • Why is it important to draw lightly when sketching?

    -Drawing lightly is important because it creates the structure or the bones of the final drawing, making it easier to erase and adjust lines without damaging the paper.

  • What simple shapes does Brandon mention as the basis for drawing objects?

    -Brandon mentions spheres, cubes, cones, and cylinders as the simple shapes that form the basis of drawing more complex objects.

  • What is the purpose of using a blending stump?

    -A blending stump is used to smooth out rough textures created by graphite on the paper, allowing for more even shading and blending of dark and light areas.

  • How does cross-hatching help in shading a drawing?

    -Cross-hatching helps in shading by creating a gradient of light to dark areas through the use of intersecting lines. The closer the lines, the darker the area appears; the farther apart, the lighter it appears.

  • What are some alternative shading techniques mentioned in the video?

    -Brandon mentions using raw graphite, blending stumps, cross-hatching, scribbling, and pointillism (dots) as alternative shading techniques.

  • Why should you be careful when using a blending stump?

    -You should be careful because the blending stump can pick up a lot of graphite and act like a pencil, potentially darkening areas unintentionally if not used with caution.

  • What is the importance of understanding the light source in shading?

    -Understanding the light source is crucial as it determines where the darkest and lightest parts of the shading will be, giving the drawing depth and a three-dimensional appearance.

  • What does Brandon recommend for practice in shading and drawing?

    -Brandon recommends setting up a still life at home to practice shading and drawing, and drawing as much as possible, ideally daily for at least 20 minutes.

  • What is pointillism and why might it be considered annoying?

    -Pointillism is a technique that involves making small dots to create shading. It can be considered annoying because it is very time-consuming and requires a lot of patience.

  • Why does Brandon emphasize practicing with different pencils?

    -Brandon emphasizes practicing with different pencils because each pencil grade (like 2B, 3B, 4B, etc.) allows for different shading effects, from lighter to darker, and helps in achieving more realistic drawings.

  • How does Brandon suggest handling the white areas of a drawing?

    -Brandon suggests shading even the white areas slightly, as most objects are not completely white. However, if you do shade these areas, you need to ensure the darkest parts are even darker to maintain contrast.

Outlines
00:00
🎨 Shading Techniques for Basic Shapes

In this segment, the artist Brandon Shafer introduces a drawing tutorial focusing on shading techniques using a 2B and 3B pencil. He emphasizes the importance of shading on simple shapes like spheres, cubes, cones, and cylinders to understand the fundamentals of value and structure in art. The artist demonstrates how to create a sphere, clean it up with an eraser, and then apply shading by considering the light source and using varying pressure to create depth. He also mentions the importance of drawing lightly as the foundation for any art form, including watercolor and pastels.

05:01
🖌️ Exploring Blending Techniques and Cross Hatching

The artist continues with different methods to blend graphite for shading, such as using a tissue or a blending stump, which helps to create a smooth transition between light and shadow. He explains the concept of cross hatching, which involves drawing intersecting lines to create a sense of depth and dimension. The tutorial includes practical tips on following the shape of a 3D object, like a sphere, to add realism to the shading. Shafer also touches on the idea of reflected light and how to incorporate it into the shading process.

10:04
🔍 Advanced Shading with Cross Hatching and Dots

This paragraph delves deeper into advanced shading techniques, including the use of cross hatching on curved surfaces and the concept of using dots for shading, similar to pointillism. The artist illustrates how to adjust the density of cross hatching lines to create gradients of light and shadow, following the curvature of the object for a more realistic effect. He also suggests experimenting with different pencil grades for varying degrees of darkness and encourages blending techniques to achieve a more polished look.

15:05
🌟 Achieving Realism Through Light and Shadow

In the final paragraph, the focus is on achieving realism in drawings by understanding and accurately depicting light and shadow. The artist provides a step-by-step guide on shading a cylinder, like a coffee mug, using smooth gradients and cross hatching to simulate the effect of light coming from a specific direction. He advises on the importance of making the darkest parts of the object even darker when shading the lighter areas and stresses the need to observe and draw from life to improve shading skills. The artist concludes by encouraging viewers to practice and experiment with shading to develop a better understanding of three-dimensional forms.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Shading Techniques
Shading techniques refer to the methods used in drawing and painting to create the illusion of depth and form. In the video, the artist emphasizes the importance of shading to address value and create realistic representations of objects like spheres, cubes, and cylinders. Shading is achieved by varying the darkness and lightness of the pencil strokes, which helps in mimicking how light interacts with different surfaces.
💡Value
Value is a term used in art to describe the relative lightness or darkness of colors, tones, or shades in a composition. The script discusses how shading techniques can be used to address value, which is crucial for creating a sense of depth and realism in drawings. The artist demonstrates how different values can be achieved through the use of varying pressures and blending techniques.
💡2B and 3B Pencils
2B and 3B pencils are types of graphite pencils used in drawing, with the 'B' indicating the softness of the lead. The softer the pencil, the darker the marks it makes. In the video, the artist mentions using a 2B and a 3B pencil, highlighting the use of different pencil grades to achieve varying degrees of darkness in shading, which is essential for creating depth and texture in the drawing.
💡Light Source
The light source is the direction from which light is imagined to be coming in a drawing or painting. In the script, the artist discusses how the light source affects the shading of objects, such as a sphere. By understanding the light source, an artist can accurately depict how shadows and highlights would appear, contributing to the realism of the artwork.
💡Cross Hatching
Cross hatching is a shading technique where intersecting lines are drawn to create a pattern that represents shadows and textures. The artist in the video demonstrates how cross hatching can be used to add depth and dimension to a drawing, especially when depicting curved surfaces like a sphere. The density of the lines can be adjusted to control the value and create a gradient effect.
💡Blending Stumps
Blending stumps are tools used in drawing and painting to smooth and blend graphite or charcoal. The script mentions using blending stumps to create a more even and smooth shading effect. This technique is useful for achieving a polished look in the artwork, as it helps to eliminate harsh lines and create a more natural transition between different values.
💡Texture
Texture in art refers to the surface quality or feel of an object as depicted in a drawing or painting. The artist discusses how the texture of the paper can affect the shading process, as the roughness can create a unique effect when graphite is applied. Understanding and manipulating texture is important for creating realistic and visually appealing artwork.
💡Still Life
Still life is a genre of art that focuses on depicting inanimate objects arranged in a composition. The script suggests setting up a still life at home as a way to practice drawing and shading. This practice can help artists improve their skills in observing and capturing the subtleties of light and shadow on various objects.
💡3D Shapes
3D shapes, or three-dimensional shapes, are objects that have length, width, and height. In the video, the artist emphasizes the importance of shading in creating the illusion of three-dimensionality in drawings. By understanding how light interacts with 3D shapes, artists can make their drawings appear more realistic and lifelike.
💡Pointillism
Pointillism is an art technique that involves applying small, distinct dots of color to create an image. The artist in the video briefly mentions pointillism in the context of shading, suggesting that creating dots with ink can be a way to achieve a dark, textured effect. This technique is more commonly associated with painting but can also be applied in drawing.
💡Curvature
Curvature in art refers to the bending or rounding of a line or surface. The script discusses how shading should follow the curvature of objects, such as a sphere or a cylinder, to accurately depict their three-dimensional form. This attention to curvature is crucial for creating a realistic and visually appealing drawing.
Highlights

Introduction to a drawing series video focusing on shading techniques.

Use of 2B and 3B pencils for shading demonstration.

Explanation of the importance of simple shapes in understanding complex forms.

Demonstration of drawing a sphere and addressing common shading challenges.

Technique of cleaning up the initial sketch with an eraser for a neater look.

Emphasis on drawing lightly for the foundation of the final drawing.

Introduction to shading a sphere with a 3B or 4B pencil to create depth.

Advice on starting with light pressure and gradually increasing for darker shades.

Technique of blending graphite for smooth shading without harsh lines.

Suggestion to practice daily with pencils to improve shading skills.

Discussion on setting up a still life for further drawing practice.

Introduction to using blending stumps for a smoother shading effect.

Explanation of cross hatching as a shading technique.

Demonstration of applying cross hatching on a curved surface.

Technique of varying the distance between hatching lines to create gradients.

Discussion on the importance of shadows in creating realistic 3D effects.

Suggestion to experiment with different shading techniques for various objects.

Introduction to using dots for shading, similar to pointillism.

Demonstration of shading a cylinder, like a coffee mug, with different techniques.

Advice on shading the 'white' side of objects to achieve realism.

Encouragement to practice shading from life for better understanding of light and shadow.

Closing remarks with an invitation to like, subscribe, and give feedback on the video.

Transcripts

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Shading Techniques3D DrawingArt TutorialSketching TipsCross HatchingValue ArtPencil DrawingArt FoundationArtistic ShadingDrawing Basics