Shading tip
3yr
Uku Kivisild
If you struggle with shading then this exercise might help you. Starting with a scale work on graduating the shade from left to right and work on controlling the different shades making sure each box is different to the ones next to them. To get even shade you need a sharp pencil and will need to get in the white spots on the paper. You will also find spots of dark dotted around and you can pull these out with a sharp rubber and refill with the correct shade.
Then working with the sphere separate the light side from the dark and place the shadow shape.
Then place a scale from exercise 1 onto the sphere and always remember the form and how it bends towards the light gradually.
Apply that logic to the whole sphere and work from the dark side toward the light from all the different angles.
Again, to get an even shade you will need to be careful with the pencil weight, work with a sharp pencil and get in all of the white spots in the paper. Use a sharp rubber to pull out the darker bits where the bite of the paper has taken too much graphite.
I hope this helps someone out there. You could post your progress here for people to critique it if you like.
Uku Kivisild
3yr
Haha thank you, it did take me an unreasonable time to do it because you have to spend hours picking out tiny dark blemishes and shading in the tiny white spots but it is a sure fire way to get smooth values (and a mental health disorder along the way). I wouldn't try it for a long drawing but would recommend this exercise to get used to the value gradient, patience and dexterity.
3yr
While this is a cool idea, I think it does a bit of 'now draw the rest of the f***ing owl.' If someone new to shading followed this they would likely end up with something like I've attached and wonder what went wrong, because your final drawing adds in a lot of elements that the shaded bar doesn't bring (reflected light, highlight, cast shadow). Also, on a sphere the shading doesn't transition linearly from dark to light (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vapw6n6FyU).
I like the premise but I think it needs a few more steps in between three and four for beginners to understand that transition.
In addition, the ability to create a perfect gradient isn't that important. If you understand the anatomy of light, with concepts like reflected light, core shadow, half tone, highlight, cast shadow, you will be able to create a believable image without spending hours on technicalities.
3yr
I should have been more clear that when I said to work 'from dark side toward the light from different angles' I meant that you would work on imagining a 3D sphere and work around the form so you wouldn't end up with the image you attached. The dark side is curved around the form in a way that works as guidance.
And you are right this isn't a step by step exercise accessible for beginners who have never learned about light on form. I figured they have plenty of better sources to learn the basics to then apply to this fun exercise.
Thanks for the feedback though, I really see where you are coming from and I am ashamed to have not thought it through fully.
