What you’ll practice
Spheres and cylinders with a clear light source, grouped values, and edge variety so they feel solid and three-dimensional.
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 the shadow family as one flat note. Keep the light side clean and separate.
3
Turn the form
Add halftones in the lights and deepen the core shadow. Aim for smooth transitions without heavy smudging.
4
Edges & accents
Sharpen the cast shadow edge; soften the turning edge. Add reflected light very subtly on the shadow side.
5
Temperature tweak
Push warm light / cool shadow (or reverse) with tiny color shifts, keeping values consistent.
Tips
- Work from large shapes to small—details last.
- Blend sparingly; layer instead for cleaner color.
- Keep a crisp edge on the cast shadow closest to the object.
Troubleshooting
- Dusty mud: Too much rubbing—tap off dust, re-state flat notes.
- No volume: Edge hierarchy missing—soften turning edge, sharpen cast.
- Patchy gradients: Use two close values, then add a tiny bridge note between them.