In my new class Sketching Basics: Drawing Shapes with Light & Shadow we will walk through the basics of working with light and shadow, and understand how to form volume on real objects.

Why is it important to know the basics of working with light and shadow? Because all objects have a certain form, whether an object or even a human face. To keep your sketches and illustrations from looking flat, you need to be able to convey volume on these forms. For example, you want to draw an apple. The apple is like a ball. And if you do not know how to show the volume of the ball, then you will not be able to draw a realistic apple.

This class is aimed at beginners, but if you have a little drawing experience, you may find some tips or refresh your knowledge.

We will not dive into all the nuances of academic drawing, the subtleties of construction, etc. I will give you the necessary minimum of the theory. It will help you make your sketches voluminous and more realistic. I simplified difficult terms for better understanding and application, but at the same time saving the most important.

You will learn:

what value is and how to use it to create volume on an object
what zones light and shadow consist of, and how to show them correctly on paper
main concepts and definitions
how to analyze the reference
how the relationship between light and shadow is formed on objects of different shapes
how to show volume on real objects in monochrome
how to show volume on real objects in color.

In the Projects&Recources section, you can find a full class guide which you can use as a cheat sheet anytime you need it.

What you will need:

In this class, I’m using alcohol-based markers. You can use your favorite materials or even work digitally.

Here is a list of what I use:

A pencil
A soft eraser
Paper/sketchbook at least 160 gsm
5-6 gray shades markers, from light to dark. I use CG 0.5, CG 1, CG 3, CG 5, CG 7, and CG 9. You can use whatever shades you have, including the colors, but it should be 4-5 shades, light to dark.
7-8 colored markers. Select shades depending on what you decide to draw.

So, let’s get started.

Eve Chaskou

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