Topic 2 : Practice drawing light and dark intensity of the figure

Practice of drawing weight intensity of light and shadow on the form

Practice of drawing lines for weight intensity of light and shadow on form of the object either in natural or man highlight, light, shadow, core of shadow, and cast shadow object makes the form appears three on a geometric form, like a sphere, will give understanding and skill according to the principle of light and shadow reflected on the object which can be use including plant, vegetable, fruit, human face and body to use this principle to make the picture looks real.

Meaning of weight value of light and shadow reflected on the object

Light reflected on an object creates different weight values of light and shadow. The course for line drawing can transfer this to line drawing as being shown here (from the reflection of light on a sphere)

The meaning of values of light intensity and shadow reflected on a form compared to the values of light intensity and shadow distinquished by human eyes into 9 levels.

Picture shows light and shadow intensity distinquished by eyes in 9 levels

1. Highlight is the brightest spot on an object seen as being white.

2. Light is the light and shadow intensity from the levels 1 to 3. It is the area where light reflected next to the highlight.

3. Shadow is weight intensity of light and shadow at levels 4 – 7. It is the area where light reflected less.

4. Core of Shadow is the weight intensity of light and shadow at levels 8 – 9 From the chart above, it is the dark area opposite to where the light enters.

5. Reflected Light is the weight intensity at levels 1 – 3. From the chart above, it is the luminous area near the core of shadow.

6. Cast Shadow is the weight intensity of light and shadow at level 9. From the chart above, it is the shadow area and decrease intensity further away from the object.

Analysis of light and shadow intensity on form of the object to be drawn on a plan

Plan is a solid object, flat, 2 dimensional (width x length). Plans may be put together to form 3 dimensional form (width x length x depth). Before drawing any form, a drawer should look at the object and analyze the form of the object as plans and form these plans into the structure of the object. The values of light and shadow intensity can be seen. Please notice the following picture and compare the left picture, which is analyzed according to various planes, to the right picture showing light and shadow on the sphere with blended highlight, light, shadow, core of shadow, reflected light and cast shadow on the surface of the object.

Picture shows the comparison of analysis of light and shadow intensity on spherical form by analyzing as various plans (left) and blended (right)

Characters of light and shadow in line drawing to give feelings to viewers

There are many characters, each one give different emotion and feelings. Therefore, a drawer has to plan and designate character of light and shadow in relation to the context that the picture is going to express. There are some methods to give light and shadow to convey the feelings.

1. Giving light and shadow for the feeling of soft and tenderness. The method is to add weight of lines with light and dark intensity not much different from each other within the picture, eg. in the levels 1 – 3 for the light area and levels 4 – 7 for the lines. There is no stressing on the edge and no heavy weight background.
2. Giving light and strong shadow for the feelings of toughness and strong intentionTo draw this type of picture, one must add weight to lines with different light and shadow intensity clearly. The highlight and light have weight of light and shadow at the levels 1 – 3, while the shadow is at the levels 4 – 7, the core of shadow at levels 8 – 9, the reflected light at levels 1 – 3. There must be the cast shadow at the level 9 and gradually decrease to 8, 7, 6, etc.
3. Giving light and strong shadow for the feelings of scarry and mystery.There is a method of drawing to add weight to lines in the dark shadow area blending with the background at the weight levels 8 – 9 evenly as well.

Methods of training for putting light and shadow in line drawing

Hatching is to put light and heavy weight to the picture to give 3 dimensiona illusion having width, length and depth on a flat plane.

Steps of line drawing

Before putting weight intensity of light and shadow to the picture, one must plan which areas are for light, shadow and background. The proper planning will help speed up and simplify the process. There are steps as following.

Step 1 Begin sketching the overall forms of the picture with lines.

Step 2 Designate boundary of light and shadow from the sketched in step 1 by putting weight to overall picture from light to shadow. The method to designate the boundary of light and shadow is to put weight in the light area toward the dark shadow by pressing gently.
Step 3 Gradually increase weight and add more details to the picture.Step 3 is to add weight gradually in the core of shadow (level 8 – 9) and reflected shadow (level 9 to lighter). Details are also added.
Step 4 Check the overall weight of the picture from the weight of highlight, light, shadow, core of shadow, reflected light and cast of shadow for accuracy. If distorted, correct the levels of intensity and add details to the picture.
Step 5 Putting weight to the background areaBackground area of the picture is very important to the picture and color painting because it helps give perfection by stressing on the clarity, distance, dimension, atmosphere and air in the picture in 3 dimension. There are 2 types of background :1. Smooth backgroundThere is no detail in the background, only the putting of weight intensity in the back of the object.

Method of drawing background by alternating side of weight

This is done by adding weight to the dark background of the and draw lightly in the shadow where the forms sit. It will help emphasize the forms and see them more clearly.

2. Drawing with landscape at the back

The landscape is shown in the background. It has less details and clarity than the forms (focal point). If the background landscape is descriptive and clear, it will compete with the forms, tone down the focal point and give wrong distance in the picture.

Setting of important priority in drawing

1. Prepare mind for drawing.

2. Prepare readiness of time and concentration.

3. Prepare materials, tools for drawing.

4. Choosing of angle and suitable object.

5. Start from sketching the right structure and form.

6. Weight right light and shadow.

7. Having personal technique and skill for expression.

Summary

Training of line drawing for weight intensity from light and shadow reflected on the form of object in the light area (highlight and light) and the shadow area (shadow, core of shadow, cast shadow and reflected light) make the 3 dimension form with width, length and depth (thickness). The training of weight intensity on geometric form like a sphere will help with understanding and skill. When using the chart of light and shadow intensity distinquishable by human eyes, the highlight is at level 0, light at levels 1 – 3 , shadow at levels 4 – 7, core of shadow at levels 8 – 9 , reflected light at levels 1 – 3 , and cast shadow at level 9 to lighter. Analysis as plan before drawing will help see the values of light and shadow intensity clearly. The priority setting begin with preparation of mind, time, concentration, materials, instrument, angle, sketching the right structure, weighting of light and shadow to the personal technique of the drawer.