Flat
Shading occurs in lower right, fading as it moves to the upper left or toward the light source. Shading goes from edge to adjacent edge, perpendicular to the light source. On a flat surface, shading is straight across at a diagonal angle. Shading should fade to light or dark by about the halfway point. Regardless of the outline shape, the treatment of a flat surface is the same. Just moving from corner to opposite corner darkening or lightening as you go.
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Cylindrical
You can think of something as big as a silo or small as a can of soup for this surface shape. In this case, shading occurs along both sides and gradually fades to light in the center. Take care not to make the highlight in the very center, but off to one side or the other slightly. This will make it look a little more natural. We use this cylindrical treatment when we paint pots, cans or bottles of any kind. * The shading on the top of this example is treated like a cone as if it was a silo. If the top of your cylinder is flat (like a coke can) then the top would be treated like the Flat surface shape below. |
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Creating Surface Shapes using Watercolors
When creating shading with watercolors, I typically start by laying down my mid toned areas and using a clean brush loaded with water to blend the color out into light highlights. Continuously render your surface shapes by glazing on successive layers. Be sure to let each layer dry first. You can also darken your color by using more intensity of pigment (less water) or by using Paynes gray, neutral tint, burnt umber or the complimentary color. Most often, using the complimentary color (opposite color on the color wheel) darkens a color in a more natural looking way. |
Shading a white object with subtle color, can be tricky. Take it easy and remember to use lots of water and light values.
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Adding a subtle cast shadow on your surfaces themselves (over your surface shading) can also be necessary when the light is being blocked by another object. This can be done gently without "erasing" the work you've done on your surface shading. Just make sure your earlier layers are completely dry, then dive in without over working or scrubbing.
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In the video on the left, I'm adding a little more shadowing on a white egg surface to differentiate where one egg overlaps another egg.
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Don't forget to add your darks underneath your objects ... the CAST shadow helps to give that impression that your object is resting on a surface and not floating in thin air. It grounds it and gives weight to your shapes.
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For Homework
As your exercise for this week, practice mastering one of these surface shapes. Choose one that troubles you the most when you paint. - Enjoy whatever color you want to use. - Practice painting the surface shape by first drawing the geometric outline of a shape (an oval, square, cylinder etc.) - Next use your watercolors to shade the shape. - Now get creative and start on a new piece of paper painting and shading an object that uses the surface shape that you studied. For example if you studied a Flat object, you could paint a box a book or a phone. |