Step by step

Page 4

The major steps involved in a good drawing are:

- Outlines

- Identifying the source(s) of light

- Applying color to the object(s)

- Mentally making a note as to where the dark and bright regions are

- Applying it practically to the colored object

- Blending the dark and bright.

- Drawing the shadows and doing the finishing touches.

Now I will go in detail about each step, one by one and I shall take the example of drawing an apple. Before I start let me advise those of you who are really interested in learning shading to get a paper and try to duplicate what you see on the screen each time....

Outlines

Everyone knows the shape of an apple... so lets draw a light outline for the same....

Never ever be disappointed if your outline comes out crazy in the first few tries...cuz you can always cover it up later... that is why it is always good to keep it as light as possible...this apple took me more than 5 or 6 adjustments to get the shape right...

Identifying the source of light

Since there is only an apple in the picture, and no sun or light or lamp , there is no 'identifying' of the source to do... this leaves us with placing the source wherever we want it...and this is really your own wish.... you can keep your imaginary source of light wherever you want it to be. Just remember not to keep it behind the apple or else you'll have a big black one left!

I'll put my source of light somewhere near your left ear.

Applying color to the object

I know that the apple is available in so many different colors, but let me choose the red apple cuz it's the most tempting color to me! I guess there isn't much explaining to do under this topic.... just don't apply paint outside your outlines!

Mental identification of dark and bright regions

Now lets see what should happen to the apple.. remember that this step is to take place in your brain and not on paper.

Why is the middle of the apple brighter? Is your answer 'because it is curved' ? Well that's only partly correct, but the main reason is that due to the outward curve of the region, that part of the apple is gradually coming closer to the source of light which is your left ear, and by the elementary basics of optics, the 'closer the source, the brighter it is'!