by Melanie Aves

Created on: December 03, 2010   Last Updated: December 04, 2010

To shade a graphite drawing,  five or more tones or values between black and white are necessary to achieve a successful three-dimensional effect.  A gradual shift from light to dark tones on a surface creates the illusion of depth.  Lighter shapes appear to project forward from the surface, and darker shapes appear to recede. The source of light, whether natural or artificial, will also affect the lightness and darkness of the tones.

In a graphite drawing, artists shade by using the play of light and dark tones to arrange the space and to describe the surface.  Usually, the lightest place on a curved surface shape, such as a sphere or a piece of fruit, will be in the area where it is closest to the viewer.  As the shape curves away from the viewer, it will become gradually darker.   However, the light source also affects the location of the lightest tones.  If a light shines directly on the shape, the part of the shape closest to the light source will be the lightest, and the part of the shape closest to the viewer will be in the middle tones.  It is interesting to note that the focal point will be the place where the darkest dark tones meet the lightest light tones.  When using white paper, the paper itself will be the lightest tone in the composition. 

When shading with dots, dark and light tones can be created by increasing the concentration of dots to achieve darker values.  When shading with parallel or crosshatched lines, the lines can be thickened so that the spaces between the lines are thinner, or fine lines can be more concentrated to create darkness and depth. 

To achieve the illusion of depth with a smooth surface, build tone upon tone by lightly coloring with a sharp graphite pencil, gradually working from light to dark.  For the lighter tones, use an H or a 2H pencil.  For the darker tones, use a 2B or HB drawing pencil.  An ebony pencil will produce very dark, opaque tones.  The surface can be blended into a satiny finish using a tortillion (sometimes called a stump) or a piece of soft lambskin. 

Shading requires careful study of the subtle changes in value on the surface of a subject, and on the cast shadows of the subject.  Practice helps these observations become second nature to an artist, and leads the way to an interpretive use of color.  Once the light is “staged,” that is, the relative values are established, an artist is free to use natural or imaginative colors to complete a painting.

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