Practice Shading With a Pencil

An example of shading added to a simple line
drawing of a ceramic mug. Teach yourself to
apply gentle and increasing pressure to pencils
and crayons in order to achieve similar results
using my practice sheets below. 

       "'Light and Shade' in Art should be considered as the means of modelling the surface confined by contour; for outline is to contour what 'light and shade' is to surface --the outline leaves an object superficial, the 'light and shade' makes it solid, and roundness and projection are the natural out come of 'light and shade,' which takes away the appearance of flatness of the surface on which the drawing is made. It is nevertheless true that this modelling of a surface may be strongly indicated by lines only, but never fully expressed without 'light and shade;' and in nature we are largely dependent on the same means for our knowledge of the projection of one thing from another, as, for instance, of the nose from the face, or of the forehead over the eyes. We become conscious of the wrinkles or creases in a face or on a piece of paper only as they may be revealed by the light and shade that is on them." Walker

       There are two technical skills related to shading that every art student must learn before successfully producing a chiaroscuro work. The first, and most academic, is to shade the source of light and shadow cast onto the surface of a shape, portrait, landscape etc... while also representing it in accurate tone/value. This is a technique that takes several years to master.
       A second skill may be learned prior to attempting the former. This technical challenge requires the smooth application of pencil strokes to the paper's surface. These should appear to seamlessly move the eyes from dark to light or from light to dark when produced successfully. I will include on each post, for shading practice, the original shaded drawing and it's digitally traced image for those of you who would like to practice the simpler shading technique on your own. Practice often and you will find yourself one step closer to producing a convincing chiaroscuro drawing.

Shading Practice Sheets:

1. "Basket of Puppies" shading practice sheet
2. Bald Eagle practice shading page
3. Vase of Sunflowers for pencil work
4. A rose-crested cockatoo shading practice sheet
5. A cute fuzzy looking owl practice shading page
6. Triceratops Prorsus shading and drawing exercise
7. The Navaho Weaver shading practice sheet
8. "Help Arrives" for pencil work
9. "Rescue At Sea" drawing and shading exercise
10. "New Parents" practice shading page
11. "Listen Kitten" shading practice sheet