What you’ll practice
Spheres and cylinders with clear light source, grouped values, and edge variety for real volume.
Paper & tools
- Toned or sanded paper; hard & soft pastels; kneaded eraser.
- Tortillon or soft brush for light blending (optional).
- Masking tape to frame a clean border.
Lighting setup
- Single light from one direction for clear cast shadows.
- Place simple objects: ball, cylinder, box.
Step-by-step
1
Light drawing
Outline sphere/cylinder lightly with hard pastel or pencil; mark light direction.
2
Group values
Fill shadow family as one flat note. Keep lights clean and separate.
3
Turn the form
Add halftones in lights, deepen core shadow; keep transitions smooth but not smudged.
4
Edges & accents
Sharpen cast shadow edge; soften turning edge. Add reflected light subtly.
5
Temperature tweak
Warm light / cool shadow (or reverse) with tiny color shifts—not big value jumps.
Tips
- Work from large shapes to small—details last.
- Blend sparingly; layer instead for cleaner color.
- Keep a clean edge on the cast shadow closest to the object.
Troubleshooting
- Dusty mud: Too much rubbing—tap off dust, re-state flats.
- No volume: Edge hierarchy missing—soften turning edge, sharpen cast.
- Patchy gradients: Use two close values, then a tiny bridge note.