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Reflected Light & Shading
Reflected light – is a faint rim of light reflected back onto an object from the surfaces surrounding the object. Reflected light can brighten areas of the subject that are in shadow and in some circumstances, help to define it from its background or supporting surface.
Above Image: illustrates the cast shadow of a rounded
object with overhead lighting. Note the different tones
within the shadow as well as the reflected light on the
glass.
Shading
Shading signifies the various shades of gray, also known
as values added to a drawing that combine to create a
three-dimensional image. Shading should complement the
effect of the lines drawn, helping to shape form in
areas where the line can only inadequately convey it.
Apply shading with consideration and only when required.
Many amateurs make the mistake of overdoing the amount
of shading added. As a result, subtlety is lost and the
image becomes cluttered. Unfortunately, there are no
hard-and-fast rules when it comes to when or where
shading is applied. In most cases, shading will follow
the same direction of the form and in many cases, it
will go against it. In certain areas, a flat, soft
pencil is ideal for rendering form and in others, a
sharp pencil is more effective. Only practice and
personal experience will enable beginners to get the
feel for it.
To create form, shading must incorporate a range of
values. Contrast, whether subtle, extreme or progressive
creates this effect of depth. Similarly, if drawings are
constructed with too small a range in values, the end
result will look flat. To evaluate tonal values, study
your subject through half-closed eyes to allow you to
distinguish the lightest and darkest areas from the
halftones. In creating contrast, it is usually effective
to begin with three moderate values. Values/tones are
different shades of gray, established by way of one's
choice of pencil grade (i.e. Soft vs. Hard pencils), the
pressure applied to the pencil and the density of
shading lines created. As you progress, you can play
around with shading styles, adding or subtracting the
number of tones as well as the degree of difference
between each to create the desired look and feel of your
piece.
In most cases, you will need to gradually transition
from lighter values to darker values to render smooth
texture in your shading. This style of shading is called
graduated shading because it involves a continuous
progression of values from dark to light or light to
dark. It is easier for most people to gradually add
darker layers to existing light values then to create a
gradual lightening effect from dark shades to lighter
shades. Having tried both approaches, you can determine
your preference, however both are important to practice.
Exercise: Using the following pencils (2H, HB, 2B, 4B,
6B), create a graduated scale of values similar to the
one below. Notice that each has a considerable range.
However when drawing, you have a choice of either
applying more pressure or switching pencils. Use 2H for
the lightest values, HB and 2B for the middle values and
4B and 6B for the darkest values.
Other pages of interest
Drawing light and
shadow
Creating shadows
in your drawings
Reflected light
and shading
Shading to
convey form
Shading techniques