How to Shade a Drawing - Theuer Method

Posted: Mar 18, 2010 |Comments: 0 | Views: 116 |

Before you start to draw remember that light travels in a straight line.  Recall how to shade simple objects like spheres, cylinders and cubes.  And don't worry about the materials you use.  I use a 4B pencil only, regular drawing paper, a white eraser and a kneaded eraser.

1. Find the brightest light
Look for the brightest light that illuminates your subject.  Outside the brightest light usually comes from the sun.  Inside it could come from an overhead light, or a day-lit window.

2. Find where the brightest light bounces off your subject first
Generally, light bounces off a subject first where the subject is closest to the light.  If you're drawing a table near a day-lit window, for example, light will bounce off the area of the table nearest the window first.  In reality it will bounce off just one spot first.  That spot splits the shortest distance between the light, the table and your eyes.  This first bounce is where your subject will be the brightest.
As your subject stretches away from the light it will become gradually darker until the darkest spot where the light bounces off last.  Both areas of light and of shadow become darker this way.

3. Shadows are darkest where objects meet
Where one object like a table leg meets another like the floor, the shadow will be darkest of all.  And from this meeting point the shadow will gradually lighten toward the shadow's edge.  Most all shadows lighten this way as they become more interrupted by reflected light.  http://miketheuer.com/shading_example_sm.jpg

Shading - 3-step Theuer method

EXERCISE -  Find a piece of fruit or any similar-sized object.  Place your object on a piece of white poster paper.  Fold half of the poster paper up in the back and support it from behind to create a standing backdrop.  Then light your object two feet from the front and two feet to the right with a spot light or a lamp.  Tilt the lamp shade toward the object.  Whatever lighting you choose, be sure to shield your eyes from the light.  Then draw!

Questions and Answers

Ask
200 Characters left
Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    Print
    Re-Publish
    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/how-to-shade-a-drawing-theuer-method-2008522.html

    Article Tags:

    drawing

    ,

    lesson

    ,

    tutorial

    ,

    pencil

    ,

    shading

    ,

    tips

    ,

    drawing lessons

    ,

    drawing tips

    ,

    shading lessons

    ,

    shading tips

    Darren Chow

    Are you looking for great color pencil drawing tutorials?

    By: Darren Chowl Arts & Entertainment> Artl Jan 18, 2008 lViews: 2,395

    Portrait drawing is a great way to develop your observation skills and a great hobby for people who likes drawing things.

    By: Edith Ozeral Arts & Entertainment> Artl Nov 03, 2010

    Drawing can be taken up either as a hobby or even as a profession. There are lots of people who love this form of art and they always make sure that they perform in the best possible way in the form of art they have chosen.

    By: David Albrightl Arts & Entertainmentl Mar 18, 2011

    Helpful Tips for Your Makeup & and Queries - General Makeup Application Guide!Makeup for An Attractive Makeup - Cosmetics & Natural Makeup Ideas . A natural makeup tutorial is never easy to write, for makeup is essentially dependent on too many variables. Different people have different make up needs, some want to effectively hide scars and marks, some wish to enhance the look of their eyes and some just wish for something light to make their skin glow.

    By: makeupsl Beauty> Cosmeticsl Apr 27, 2011

    Sketching is the skill of simulating any view on paper with just a few strokes in a few minutes. Anyone can learn how to sketch with some basic observation skills. This potential is accessible at any age!

    By: Edith Ozeral Arts & Entertainment> Artl Nov 30, 2010 lViews: 276

    This article is about learning. The way of learning how to use these powerful tools to dominate or just have fun online.

    By: thomasl Arts & Entertainment> Artl May 25, 2012

    Painting for sale and Art reproduction are in demand from different occasion period. Besides that there is a special time and appeal ,to network with all of them. There is no preplanned to obtain them:- On line or form a shop . You have to be keep in touch with some pointers that can directly lead you there and must provide the relevant material for which you are searching.

    By: robertmoore1l Arts & Entertainment> Artl May 23, 2012
    Ton Pascal

    "Leda And The Swan", by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of history's great art losses. From the surviving copies we can see its beauty, the masterly composition, and the complex emblematic symbolism. Leonardo went beyond the sexual act portrayed until then about this mythic story. The great popularity of this subject in the sixteenth century was due to the fact that it was then more acceptable to depict a woman having an act of copulation with an animal than with a man.

    By: Ton Pascall Arts & Entertainment> Artl May 23, 2012

    Art Reproduction tend to be terrific concept for decorating as they'll immediately provide beauty, add color and can enhance the actual overlook associated with home, office or even library whilst admire the very best quality duplication of unique artwork.

    By: architecturepaintingsl Arts & Entertainment> Artl May 23, 2012

    Oil paintings comes in all shapes and sizes and generally based on a variety of themes that appeal to all tastes. For oil painting, different painting materials are used like canvas and cardboard. Original oil paintings are most valuable art among other existing art, out of them some are valued at millions of dollars.

    By: robertmoore1l Arts & Entertainment> Artl May 22, 2012
    mike theuer

    This article describes my four rules for drawing hair. It also includes illustrations and a how-to-draw video. It answers a question I have been asked a lot, "How do I draw hair?"

    By: mike theuerl Arts & Entertainment> Artl Mar 07, 2011 lViews: 449
    mike theuer

    Focus is not how clear your drawing is. Instead, the focus of your drawing is the subject. It is what you want the viewer to see.  And often it is what you want the viewer to feel.

    By: mike theuerl Arts & Entertainment> Artl Jan 14, 2011
    mike theuer

    THEUER DRAWING LESSON #14 If you don't have the right grip on your pencil, your drawings will be flat. The right grip will broaden your drawing!

    By: mike theuerl Arts & Entertainment> Visual Artl Sep 13, 2010
    mike theuer

    "Where do I place the subject on the paper?" This article explains an easy approach to placing objects on a page. It can be applied to any medium in art. Because every medium first starts with a good composition. Includes an exercise.

    By: mike theuerl Arts & Entertainment> Artl Mar 18, 2010

    Discuss this Article

    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    Quantcast