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About instructor
Former program director at Barcelona Academy of Art. Passionate about teaching craft and exploring the inner game of art.
LESSON NOTES
Check out the "Assignments" tab to get the assignment details and share your work!
ASSIGNMENTS![]()
![Samuel Sanjaya]()
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![Brayden Copley]()
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![Tony Vu]()
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![@gasyadocro]()
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![Jean-François (Jeff) Durix]()
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![Tony Vu]()
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![Jean-François (Jeff) Durix]()
Overview
In this project, we'll apply the "Halfway to Black" (HTB) shading method to a simple head.
Example
Steps
- Download Project File – If you prefer, you can also draw your own head or build it in a 3D program like Blender. If you do, keep your design very simple! This is important. Every surface you add will create a lot of additional work when you start shading. Make sure you only use flat surfaces. Except for the eyes, which should be half-spheres.
- Choose Light Direction – Make sure you have a good 1-2-3 Read. (See the lesson "7 Tools for Showing Form".) Create two light probes: one for the floor and one for the head. You can omit the cast shadow for now. We'll add it in the next assignment.
- Apply HTB Shading – Create 4 variations of different local values for the floor and head. (See examples.) Don't draw reflected light or ambient occlusion yet. That's also for the next assignment! :)
- Upload – Share your work.
Meet these Challenges
- Draw correct perspective.
- Use two different local values for the floor and head.
- Make each of your four variations unique.
Duration
This project should take 1–3 hours to complete.
Common Mistakes
- Undefined light type.
Decide whether your blockhead is lit with natural light (parallel light rays) or artificial light (a nearby point light source that radiates rays). - Inconsistent light directions.
Make sure you have the same light direction and 1-2-3 read on the head and the floor. - Outlines.
Don't show outlines in your final image. - Light from below.
Choosing a light direction lower than the floor will create a cast shadow of the floor onto the head.
Additional Examples
getting a little bit confused on the cast shadow. imagining the local value on a boxy form like this is somewhat headache inducing, since I got used to seeing box like this seperated with mid and darktones directly.
any feedback or critiques are welcome
I have to say that as I do these I'm astonished at how much texture even very smooth paper has. In doing these quick ones I've not taken the time to island hunt and smooth everything out. I am looking forward to the refined head to see what I can do with more time and attention.
Seeing all of this finally makes me understand why my shading always went too dark as a kid. Not knowing about island hunting or kneadable erasers meant that I would use too much pressure to get an even tone thus pushing things too dark, and that I only thought of erasers for removal and not refinement.
I decided to redo the assignment. I also intend to attempt the refined part again as well. To change things up, I thought I would do a duck instead of a head.
Also, I realised that 1 and 3 are really similar after I completed the assignment. I Might go back and change it up at a later date.
I’m not sure it’s what meant to do, but including personal practice, I began to realize the light probe is so useful!
Just did 3 for the moment and the 3rd one doesn’t have a good 1-2-3 read
I modified the provided image by adding a top hat and monocle. I'm not 100% if it's a clear 1-2-3 read, but I hope I did things right
My model and its source of inspiration laying on my desk: an electricity wire connector. Will now start the main part of the exercise
