Are you an artist? if so, how do you apply shading to your drawing, painting, sculptures, ect.?

I don’t do cross hatching much, but I know the more crosses/lines you do, the darker that area will look, and the more spaced out they are, the lighter it will look. For painting, I found it was easier to start with the lights and then gradually add the darker shades after. Its hard to make a dark color lighter if you mess up. I don’t necessarily know if there’s much of a fast way to apply shading though, i mean if you want it to look good you should probably spend a good amount of time on it. Unless you want it more abstract maybe, but even those take some time. If you want a more abstract feel I say go with cross hatching, which will probably not take as long as if you used gradation. Just make sure you have a light source so you know where to shade, or at least picture where the light source would be if you don’t have one.

1. Study shadows. Become aware of how light strength and the shape of the thing casting a shadow will work. Take pictures of things and copy what you see. I began with full faces, half in shadow, so that I was only working with light and dark values. It taught me a lot about how shape of the nose AND the surface contours of the cheek create a shadow. It is pretty basic physics.
2. What technique you use depends on your media and what technique you are using to create the work. Some will work with cross hatch, while it would not work in most applications. Learn to do it because it will help you understand shadow and how to create one. But don’t try to use one technique. You have to learn to use the appropriate one for each work.

You simply need to study how light works. You don’t have a shadow without it. And the values of light, texture, shape, surrounding reflective surfaces and your media will all effect how you shade it.

Agree. Study shadows. Don’t think about it too much, just let it flowwwwwwwww.

@Jharty89 that makes alot of sense, it would be easier to go from light to dark, i feel stupid for not seeing that. than you.

@Jewel I undertsand what your saying. basicly there is no short cut around it. There sure is alot to cover and for the industry i want to work in, deadlines are my biggest obstacle. Thank you for your feed back i see the big picture you are painting. and than you too @kikibirdjones

I usually go from dark to light when using an ink wash,charcoal or pencil-any black and white medium.As for painting in color,I start with the darker shades and do highlights last.I paint with acrylics and gauche.It might help to do a few value scales in your medium and a color theory class or book might help too.Don’t put any pressure on yourself to creat a masterpiece.Just experiment and have fun!

@lucillelucillelucille Do know of any books that would be helpful?

There are alot out there.I am not sure if the title is right but it was called something like“Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain”

@lucillelucillelucille Ive read that book already it really help me with problem solving and working thru learning curves. I think i will read it again. thank you very much

@lucillelucillelucille that is a great book! I also recommend “Drawing With Children”...even if you’re not a child. It changed my life.

@life_after_2012 -If you’re lucky enough to find a good teacher,that is a great way to go.
@kikibirdjones -I will look for that book.It sounds interesting!:)

@lucillelucillelucille LEt me know if you do! I lurvvvve it.

Yes I am an artist. Keep your hand loose and don’t outline objects. Create the impression of that object by focusing on dark and light areas. Make shading areas by soft and sporadic hatch marks darkened as needed.

A good way to cheat is to work on the contrast element of black and white to make things stick out. It’s what I usually do, and then you can go over it with an eraser to make it blend if the contrast is to strident. (I recommend those gummy gray erasers, not hard ones.)
As well, this may highly depend on what you’re drawing. You have to consider the details and how to work with them. In the example I have below, there are plenty of feathers, which is hard to work with, compared to say if you were drawing a beach ball.
I also highly champion the use of smudgers for three dimensional looks and shading, they work great, and cut the task in half its time.
Last but not least, shading always involves a light source, or lack of one; create for yourself an invisible source of light and make sure to respect the disposition of actual light when it reflects on things.

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt92/BweepII/loo2.jpg