Line & Shape, teens and adults
How to draw Shading a Sphere
Every rounded form you will ever draw is a sphere underneath. Map where the light falls, find the core shadow a little in from the edge, keep the reflected light, and seat the sphere on the table with a cast shadow that is darkest where it touches.
No account needed to try it.
- Level
- Easy
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Steps
- 7
- Ages
- 13 and up
How to draw Shading a Sphere
What you need
- Drawing paper Cartridge or sketch paper with a little tooth.
- Blue pencil A light blue col-erase pencil, or a very light HB.
- Graphite pencils HB and 2B; a 4B or 6B for the darkest darks.
- Kneaded eraser Press and lift; pinch it to a point for highlights.
Step by step
-
01Placement
Place it and name the light
Draw the table line, a light circle, and an arrow for where the light comes from. Every tone follows that arrow.
-
02Construction
Map the light
Mark the brightest spot facing the light, the shadow edge across the ball, and the cast shadow on the table.
-
03Construction
Commit the edge, lift the blue
Draw the outline in graphite: lighter on the lit side, firmer on the shadow side. Then lift the blue away.
-
04Light and shadow
The core shadow
Hatch the shadow side. It is darkest in a band just inside the shadow edge, and lighter again at the rim.
-
05Light and shadow
Halftones
Now the lit side: a light, even halftone that fades out before the highlight. Leave the highlight as bare paper.
-
06Light and shadow
Seat it with a cast shadow
Hatch the cast shadow on the table, away from the light. It is darkest under the ball and softens as it goes.
-
07Finishing touches
Occlusion and the last darks
Press hard right where the ball meets the table. Then lift a clean highlight with the kneaded eraser.
Teens and adults
