What are some good ways to learn to shade delicately? I do still lifes on the weekend (mainly objects i find around the kitchen) and that has helped in some ways, but i'm struggling with technique.
My process for shading is i start with single lines with an HB and 4B (for the darker areas)gradually building up the drawing getting darker as i go. when im done, i go over it with a 2H to try and get a 'smooth' look.
Starting with an HB is good - it's got great versatility. Bringing in something as dark as a 4B that early is a bad idea (and because it's a softer lead, it's much more likely to smear and make everything look like crap pretty quickly).
To be honest, try to get as much out of the HB as possible. Learn to use a light touch, and learn to build with it (i.e. layering) strokes, rather than trying to go for the exact value you need right away. Hell, in this piece, I used an HB for 95% of everything. The only time I introduced a 2h or 2B (which was the darkest I used) was at the end, to just push the values further...but the values were almost entirely there already, from careful use of the HB.
Plum'd the last sentence because it's a toss-up for me. Personally I just blur my vision and go over the lighter spots with a soft touch of the HB, because in order to achieve the same soft look with a 2H, you have to press down a little harder. The other method (with the HB) I also think is just more precise. Still, using that method can be nice, in some cases...if your shading isn't in need of "evening out" too much. If certain areas in your shading are too uneven, too mottled in values, using the 2H to smooth things out won't work.
Try to get as much out of the HB as you possibly can, without having to press down very hard (because going over the same spot with a medium-to-hard lead will give the paper a slick surface, and not allow the softer B leads to stick to the paper). Layer, and when you layer, use slightly different angles, so your strokes aren't all obviously following one direction, and/or obviously messy.
In other words, don't go for the screen door "little squares" look, go for the "small, elongated diamonds" look. Don't cross your earlier strokes at 90 degree angles.
A few examples for my process on that piece:
In this 2nd one, above, I just blocked out my shadowed areas very loosely, somewhat suggesting where the darker parts might be. I do not emphasize the edges of these blocked-in areas, because I want them to fade later. I remember using a kneaded eraser a bit to soften the edges in the next step, if the edges were too strong. The lower half of the figure is one more step beyond what I've done on the top half.
In this next one - still only using an HB - I make the edges of the blocked-out shadows softer, and work on more of the subtleties in the midranges. "Technically", you're not supposed to jump in steps like that (there should've actually been a couple of other steps between, and I should've progressed with the whole piece at the same time...but I think I understand the process well enough to start rendering further on one part, and make my way down, without it being obvious that I've done so).
It was only after this entire piece was done in HB that I took my 2B and went in to the darkest areas and pushed them. I used the 2H very, very minimally in that last step above, with the HB. I may've used the 2H in other areas at the tail-end of things to smooth a few of the darker areas out more, but both the 2H and 2B were only very slightly used at all.
My hatching wasn't ideal, and I thought I could get away with some radically-angled strokes in some places, but the places I did do that are pretty obvious. (Don't do that).
Thanks for taking the time for that post ND! The process shots you posted are helping me loads! IK'll post some as soon as i feel theyre ready.
Cake - I wish there where similar art schools here in South Australia like the ones over in the United States. Though from what i read they are very expensive.
I cant disagree with what you have said. I do struggle simplifying objects into simple shapes. Though i can definately feel an improvement when drawing obects around the house, i still struggle with the human body.
Pretty keen on doing a Bargue study too
Oh, bought a awesome A3 size Michelangelo book today (on special for $5.00!) so i now have plents of statue references to work from.
Hmm... It does look a lot like shyguy, doesn't it?
I might change that around. The mask has been kind of difficult to come up with a right one. As for the leg, It's a mash of a different factory equipment put together. Still pretty rough.
I like that muchly, though a few of the figures seem to be stitched in for different images, because of the variations in line weight, from character to character.
OH MAN, tam. The 2 drawings on tis page cracked me up. I laughed out loud at the hand, thinking about it walking around, fingers splayed, for balance, then slapping down on the page and rooting around for the pencil. That is awesome.
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KoopahTroopahThe koopas, the troopas.Philadelphia, PARegistered Userregular
Why didn't you, at the early stages, figure that you'd better fix up that fucking monstrous melty candle zombie face before spending god Knows how much time and energy on filling in all the black space and getting the fucking wood grain right?
Because its pretty good.... Except for .. You know... The subject of the drawing.
I think you need to stop doing illustrations in pencil and charcoal. It is by far the most process intensive medium I have ever seen, and you really need to learn a little bit more on it.
One of my teachers did crazy pencil illustrations. You have to be a certain kind of OCD to do that shit.
EDIT: For example, she worked at 24"x36" or larger. This is important for detailed illustrations
Sharpened her pencil by hand every 5 or so strokes
Never pressing too hard to indent the board
Held the pencil at an exact angle the whole time.
The science behind that is how the tooth of the paper or board takes the charcoal.
Wearing gloves so your skin grease doesn't affect the charcoal
Having like 10 different kind of erasers.
Hell, even the initial toning of the board used an involved process of crushing charcoal
and using certain chemicals to help with the smearing.
I think I learned more about form painting than I ever did trying to get it with drawing, but wck, I think you tend to "draw" when you paint too. Honestly, I would suggest watching some process videos of people you admire, and scaling down the amount of time you're spending on learning everything at once, and just do works that will help you learn a few things at a time. Simplify.
This all reminds me, the most meticulous artist I have ever met is an illustrator named Allen Williams (you may have heard of him as LA Williams). Besides being a really cool guy, check this out. Stipplings. He did that at the Illustration Master Class I went to back in June.
Unfortunately, what that image doesn't convey is the gritty sparkle (literally sparkling) that his originals have. I love it. In fact...I need to buy one.
Desperate Robots - Love your description of the face. honestly, the way i drew it was what i was wanting. so it never crossed my mind that it needed fixing.
Wakkawa - Your teacher sounds like a nut! Crazy. I dont mind penci as it forces me to work slower because theres only so many times you can erase the lines. I find when i paint in oils (even more digital) i find that I rush things because i feel i have less control.
Iruka - I'm guessing by simplify, you mean more simple content?
Im still working on some studies of detailed drawings of male/female anatomy in reference to NDragons posted work.
In the city today so hopefully get around to going to the art gallery to draw some statues!
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First time really using pastels and oil paints. I'm friggin' light headed but I think they turned out nicely.
Brock Samson beat me up today ;_;
I always just hear K.O. voiced a la the Scott Pilgrim game & movie, now.
I like to think Helper is actually running in at the last minute, trying to save her.
Possible even help 'er.
Ah? Eh? 8-)
Thanks for taking the time for that post ND! The process shots you posted are helping me loads! IK'll post some as soon as i feel theyre ready.
Cake - I wish there where similar art schools here in South Australia like the ones over in the United States. Though from what i read they are very expensive.
I cant disagree with what you have said. I do struggle simplifying objects into simple shapes. Though i can definately feel an improvement when drawing obects around the house, i still struggle with the human body.
Pretty keen on doing a Bargue study too
Oh, bought a awesome A3 size Michelangelo book today (on special for $5.00!) so i now have plents of statue references to work from.
Haha, nah, HELPeR is just running around in the back beeping and wailing like a pansy.
Per usual
also: I was doodling in photoshop CS5 and a pirate happened. avast!
this was the original link: http://www.gerrittperkins.com/images/2D/2d0.jpg
Hmm... It does look a lot like shyguy, doesn't it?
I might change that around. The mask has been kind of difficult to come up with a right one. As for the leg, It's a mash of a different factory equipment put together. Still pretty rough.
Hiking Essentials
Jem, because i am fueled by nostalgia
I like that muchly, though a few of the figures seem to be stitched in for different images, because of the variations in line weight, from character to character.
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Hiking Essentials
bel, the house is on sale for $Texas
wakkawa, I've run out of ways to kiss your ass
I love this.
verr' nice, Obi
self portrait, don't know where i'm going to take the bg
e: for diff colors
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Twitch: KoopahTroopah - Steam: Koopah
i think a bit more deeper blues would look nice against the background orange
sketch of Johnny Ramone ive been working 'on and off' since last thursday. Forced myself to only use HB pencil
scanner is cheap and nasty, so had to digitally edit the values and contrasts in photoshop - resulting in the harsh rough look
Why didn't you, at the early stages, figure that you'd better fix up that fucking monstrous melty candle zombie face before spending god Knows how much time and energy on filling in all the black space and getting the fucking wood grain right?
Because its pretty good.... Except for .. You know... The subject of the drawing.
One of my teachers did crazy pencil illustrations. You have to be a certain kind of OCD to do that shit.
EDIT: For example, she worked at 24"x36" or larger. This is important for detailed illustrations
Sharpened her pencil by hand every 5 or so strokes
Never pressing too hard to indent the board
Held the pencil at an exact angle the whole time.
The science behind that is how the tooth of the paper or board takes the charcoal.
Wearing gloves so your skin grease doesn't affect the charcoal
Having like 10 different kind of erasers.
Hell, even the initial toning of the board used an involved process of crushing charcoal
and using certain chemicals to help with the smearing.
Unfortunately, what that image doesn't convey is the gritty sparkle (literally sparkling) that his originals have. I love it. In fact...I need to buy one.
The three drawing majors at my school were also crazy meticulous.
Hiking Essentials
Desperate Robots - Love your description of the face. honestly, the way i drew it was what i was wanting. so it never crossed my mind that it needed fixing.
Wakkawa - Your teacher sounds like a nut! Crazy. I dont mind penci as it forces me to work slower because theres only so many times you can erase the lines. I find when i paint in oils (even more digital) i find that I rush things because i feel i have less control.
Iruka - I'm guessing by simplify, you mean more simple content?
Im still working on some studies of detailed drawings of male/female anatomy in reference to NDragons posted work.
In the city today so hopefully get around to going to the art gallery to draw some statues!