Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 8.
6
Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 65.5
Drawspace Curriculum 3.1.R1 - 8 Pages and 18 Illustrations
Identifying Light and
Shadow on Forms
Examine four basic components of light and shadow
that help create the illusion of three-dimensional
forms on a flat sheet of drawing paper
This tutorial has five sections:
Highlighting Highlights
Examining Shadow Sections
Identifying Reflected Light
ArtSpeak
Exploring Cast Shadows
Shadow: A dark area on an object or living being that
receives little to no light.
Seeing Light and Shadow in
a Graduation
Shading: The process of adding values to a drawing
to create the illusion of texture, form, and/or threedimensional space.
Shading is so much more
than simply adding values to a
drawing. Shading is accurately
rendering light and shadow.
A light source identifies the light
and shadow areas of a drawing
subject so you know where to
add light and dark shading.
When you know where to draw
light and shadow, you can turn
shapes into forms.
With contour hatching and a
light source from the upper left,
a simple circle becomes both a
sphere and a planet (Figure 1).
Values: (also called tones) The various shades of gray
in an artwork. A broad range of values can be achieved
by using various grades of a medium and by varying the
density of the shading lines and the pressure used when
applying the medium to a surface.
Shape: A two-dimensional geometric object that can serve
as the outline of a three-dimensional object. For example,
a circle is the shape of a sphere.
Form: A component of art that creates the illusion of a
three dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface,
such as paper or canvas. A range of values and/or
colors are used to visually transform shapes into threedimensional structures.
Light source: The direction from which a dominant light
originates. A light source identifies the light and shadow
areas of a drawing subject, allowing artists to know where
to add light or dark lines and values in their artworks.
Circle: A geometric shape in which all points on the
circumference are an equal distance from the center point.
ISBN: 978-1-927365-75-5
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Drawspace Curriculum 3.1.R1
Figure 1
ArtSpeak
Sphere: A perfectly
round geometric object
in which all points on
the surface are equal
distance from the
center point. Balls and
globes are examples of
spheres.
Highlighting Highlights
You can add one or more strategically placed highlights to
drawings of most objects and living beings to make them
appear more three dimensional. A sphere helps illustrate the
power of a single highlight (Figure 2).
Examine
the white
circular
shape in
the center
of the
lightest
shading.
Figure 2
Hatching: A series
of lines (called a set)
drawn closely together
to give the illusion of
values. Depending on
the shading effects
desired, the individual
lines in hatching sets
can be far apart or close
together.
Contour hatching:
A classical shading
technique in which sets
of curved hatching lines
follow the outlines,
contours, and/or forms
of the drawing subject
and accentuate the
illusion of a threedimensional reality.
Note that
the light
source is
from the
upper left;
thus, the
highlight
needs to
be in the
upper left.
Highlights can be any size and do not have to be circular.
Their sizes and shapes vary considerably based on the type
of light source and the forms of the object on which they
appear.
A drawing of a medieval dagger (Figure 3) has more than
twenty highlights that are different sizes and shapes. The
locations of twelve of these highlights are identified with
arrows.
Highlight: A small
section of a drawing
subject that is rendered
with white or a very
light value to identify
the brightest area
where light bounces off
its surface. Highlights
are more pronounced
on shiny or glistening
surfaces than dull or
matte surfaces.
Render: The process
of making or creating
something. For
example, an artist can
render a sketch by
drawing lines on a sheet
of paper.
ISBN: 978-1-927365-75-5
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Drawspace Curriculum 3.1.R1
Figure 3
Examining Shadow Sections
The surfaces on objects that receive very little light or are in the shadow of other objects
are usually dark in value. The darkest shading on the surface of a form is often located in
areas where the light has been blocked by the form itself.
Identify the dark,
crescent-shaped
shadow on the lower
right of a sphere
(Figure 4). The light
source is from the
upper left.
Figure 4
Figure 5
In Figure 5, the
contrast has been
enhanced in Photoshop
to better demonstrate
the crescent shape.
ISBN: 978-1-927365-75-5
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Drawspace Curriculum 3.1.R1
Realistic drawings of human facial forms are highly dependent
on the accurate placement of shadows.
In a realistic drawing of an eye (Figure 6), the light is partially
blocked from reaching the six shadow sections marked with
arrows. These sections need to be rendered with darker
shading than the sections that are in direct light.
Figure 6
ArtSpeak
Realism: A style of
art in which living
beings and objects
are represented in
an artwork as they
appear in real life
without stylization or
distortion.
Reflected light: A
faint light reflected or
bounced back on an
object from nearby
surfaces.
Cast shadow: A
dark section on an
object or a surface
adjacent to a subject
that receives little
or no direct light.
The values of a cast
shadow are darkest
next to the object and
gradually lighten as
they move farther
away.
Thanks to Photoshop, Figure 7 shows the shadow
sections more clearly.
Subject: Any object
or living being that
an artist chooses to
capture in an artwork.
Contour: The outline
or a section of the
outline of a shape or
form.
Figure 7
As an Aside
Even though the iris, pupil,
eyelashes, and eyebrow are
shaded with dark values in
Figures 6 and 7, they are not
completely in shadow. The
colors of those parts are simply
dark in value.
ISBN: 978-1-927365-75-5
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Drawspace Curriculum 3.1.R1
Identifying Reflected Light
Reflected light is especially noticeable on a sphere. Identify the rim of light shading on the
lower right of Figure 8. In this particular case, the reflected light is bouncing back from the
light surface on which the sphere is sitting.
In Figure 9,
Photoshop
helps
make the
background
black so
you can
better see
the reflected
light.
Figure 8
Figure 9
When you know how to add
reflected light to your drawings,
many independent forms, such
as faces and noses tend to look
more three-dimensional and
therefore more realistic.
Figure 10
In the drawing of a child in
Figure 10, look for the tiny
sections of reflected light on the
edge of his nose and along the
jaw and chin.
ArtSpeak
Value scale: A range of different
values that are drawn in sequence
from light to dark or from dark to
light.
Contour lines: Real or imaginary
lines formed when the shared
edges of spaces or forms meet.
You can draw everything you can
see or imagine with contour lines.
Graduation: (also called gradient,
graduated shading, or graduated
values) A continuous, seamless
progression of values from dark to
light or light to dark.
ISBN: 978-1-927365-75-5
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Drawspace Curriculum 3.1.R1
Exploring Cast Shadows
Figure 11
The light source in the drawings of a sphere
(Figure 11) and a grape (Figure 12) is from
the upper left. The light on an adjacent
surface is blocked by each of these objects,
resulting in cast shadows on the right.
When you draw cast shadows, keep in mind
that they generally take on the shapes of
the forms that are blocking the light.
Examine the cast shadow of a section of
the stem in the drawing of the grape.
The light source in Figure 13 is slightly
behind and above the giraffe, and from the
left. For the most part, the cast shadows are
long and thin like his legs.
Figure 12
Figure 13
The values of these cast shadows
are darkest right next to the giraffes
feet and become gradually lighter
farther outward.
How and where you draw a cast
shadow can create the illusion
that objects are either touching or
separated from adjacent surfaces (or
other objects).
As an Aside
The shadows in Figures 11 and 12 have
been darkened in Photoshop to better
illustrate their shapes.
ISBN: 978-1-927365-75-5
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Drawspace Curriculum 3.1.R1
The drawing of three spheres in
Figure 14 has a light source from
above.
The first sphere (on the far left) is
sitting on the surface of a table. The
cast shadow is touching its lower
edge.
As an Aside
No art was ever less spontaneous than mine. What I
do is the result of reflection and study.
Edgar Dgas
However, the other
two appear to be
floating because the
shadows are detached
from the spheres.
Figure 14
As a sphere floats
higher above a
surface, its shadow
usually becomes
lighter in value and
the reflected light
on its surface is less
noticeable.
Figure 15
Figure 16
Seeing
Light and
Shadow in a
Graduation
A graduation of
values can serve as
an example of how
shading would look on
a section of an actual
object.
The different values in a graduation
can therefore be attributed to the
effects of the light source.
The contours of a sphere (Figure 15)
and a sliver of a sphere (Figure 16)
are identified with simple contour
lines.
As an Aside
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in
creative expression and knowledge.
Albert Einstein
ISBN: 978-1-927365-75-5
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
Drawspace Curriculum 3.1.R1
Examine the highlight, shadow, and reflected light on the same sphere after shading
was added (Figure 17). Compare and note the similarities of the left side of the sphere to
the graduation on the right. The various values in this graduation of values can also be
considered a highlight, a shadow section, and reflected light.
Figure 17
Highlight
Shadow
Reflected light
Figure 18
The practice of rendering
graduations with contour
lines becomes much more
interesting when you
imagine them as part of an
actual object.
Challenge!
Examine the shading on
the apple in Figure 18 and
identify the:
highlight
shadow section
reflected light
cast shadow
ISBN: 978-1-927365-75-5
Copyright 2013 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transferred, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including
electronic, digital, mechanical, recording, photographing, photocopying, or otherwise, without the purchase of a licence from drawspace.com or the prior written consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing.
