Project 2 - Exercise 3 Creating shadow using lines and marks

 Exercise 3-Creating shadow using lines and marks.

Single object

I chose a small cardboard box and used four different drawing tools to help me create shadows using lines and marks; a pencil, a biro pen, a felt tip pen with a fine nib and a wider tip alcohol marker. I used a lamp to help create a prominent shadow. 

pencil (top) and biro (bottom)

fine felt tip (top) and broad marker (bottom)

Reflections on using my chosen mediums :

Pencil

I really enjoyed using the pencil as it's what I am mostly used to, (it was hard to resist the temptation of smudging it though!). A pencil is quite versatile in as much that by altering the pressure while drawing one can achieve an array of values, depending on its softness.

Biro pen

It was quite liberating having not to worry about correcting things! It was great fun to just keep going and going and going, not worrying about any 'stray' lines! A good range of values can be achieved with the biro when cross hatching. I would like to try this using different coloured biros on different supports to see the sort of visual effects that can be achieved.

Felt tip pen with fine nib

This was fun as the tip of the pen meant I could draw very fine lines. Similarly to the biro, once I had drawn a line out of place I just had to keep going! When drawing spots with this pen it took a long time, so maybe not suitable when covering large areas with this shading technique! The fineness of the lines and marks made the cardboard box appear' more delicate'. The felt tip didn't offer the convenience of creating lighter marks but instead that effect would have to be achieved by drawing parallel or hatched lines distanced further and further apart.

Permanent alcohol marker with broad tip

The marker was definitely a lot better and quicker to use than the fine tip felt pen.  Although, I really liked the rich, dark tones of this medium, I didn't find it suitable for drawing faint lines.


Some afterthoughts:
I would love to try this shading technique with other mediums such as watercolours or acrylics on different supports as they I think they'd be easier and more interesting to create!

Looking back at my drawings, I realised that I drew the outlines of the box's shadows and then filled them in. Also, I kept forgetting not to apply pressure on the sides that were meant to be lighter in tone.

So .....  I had a few more tries (photos below).

more attempts of line shadowing using

biro (top), different shades of grey

pro-markers(middle) and ink (bottom)

line shadowing using charcoal

more attempts of single objects with different mediums

Groups of objects

While using the pencil in my first group attempt, I tried to remember to use less pressure when drawing the lighter sides of the objects and to avoid outlining the shadows.

Having tried the pencil and charcoal it is evident that the charcoal helps create a  'looser', feel especially when working quickly with it. I really love the richness and darkness of the charcoal, how it makes objects appear closer to the viewer and more three dimensional. The pencil drawing makes the objects appear further away. 

pencil shading

Charcoal shading

And a few more shading exercises on a sphere!!!

A3 Canson, Bristol Board 180 gsm

A3 Medium surface cartridge paper 220 gsm