Shading is what takes a drawing from looking two dimensional, to appearing as if it has volume and form. Shading techniques give the artist more control over the values produced, whilst creating texture and depth.
Pencil shading is a fundamental aspect of drawing, an unavoidable step that we can’t skip and a lesson we need to learn in order to master pencil drawing. By effectively using shading techniques you’ll be able to make your drawings come to life, adding texture, dimension and character to your art.
This tutorial shows you a few shading tips that can help your pencil shading drawing skills as well as your pen drawing skills. Learning how to shade with a pencil is very synonymous with shading with a pen, which is why you should try all these techniques in both mediums.
Become a better artist in minutes with our guide to shading for drawings. Discover easy and advanced shading techniques with Gathered.
You can practice with the shading techniques introduced in this tutorial, or create your very own :) Try using them in your own drawings and see how each technique changes the way your shading looks.
Get familiar with the shading tools, like pencils, blending equipment, and kneaded eraser, and know their properties and features. Watch video tutorials or read articles about pencil shading techniques for more information. If you cannot get your drawing right initially, do not hesitate to try again.
Learn how to master shading with a simple value study of three apples. This beginner-friendly tutorial teaches you to see and recreate lights, mid-tones, and darks to make your drawings more realistic and three-dimensional.