After learning to draw creatures, items and people using simple line drawing, the next step is to learn make your drawing more realistic. Using shading in your drawings will add contour and dimension to your drawings, bringing life to your artwork. To learn use shading to make your drawings realistic, follow the instructions below.
Instructions
1. Find a simple item to use as the model for your drawing. An item with a simple geometric shape will do. You can use a ball, a cone, a cylinder or any similar item. For this illustration, we will use a cube.
2. Place the item you are using as a model for your drawing on a table, and shine a light on it to exaggerate the shadows. You will not always use a spotlight when using shading, but when you are learning to use shading, this tip makes finding shadows easier.
3. Draw the simple outline of the shape on your paper. Also, draw the outline of your shadow and any other lines that are cast by the light on your item.
4. Start with the darkest shadow that is cast on or by your image, and color it in using your pencil. This will very likely be the darkest part of your drawing. Press the pencil firmly on the page to make the shadow dark. You can use a soft drawing pencil to make the shadow even darker.
5. Color in the second darkest area using your pencil. Vary the force with which you draw with to make the shading lighter if there are variations of light and dark in the section you are shading. Use your finger or a blending stump to help make the transitions from light to dark smoother.
6. Continue coloring in and blending the different areas of your drawing, using your eraser to lighten areas if you go too dark. Use your eraser to clean up errors and brighten the spots where the light meets the image.
