I have NO experience with ribbons. Makes me a little dizzy. Found online class, by Brian Poetter, middle school art teacher, which helped me a lot. Shading is difficult!
Hi Bonny! I can see how it could make you dizzy! I would start by doing less sections of ribbon and add more configurations as you get more comfortable with it. Using the center (curviest) section of ribbon as an example – it is too uniform. Both sides are done the same and that would not be the case. Because of that I can not tell which side your light source is coming from. The shadow toning would not stop at the half way point as shown. On sides of the ribbon that are exposed more to the light, the toning would not come out as far from the bend or be as dark as the sides of the ribbon that are on the other side of the light source. The inside bends would be darkest as you have done, but then transition lighter (and have a highlight) before you have a shadow again at the outside bend. This is to convey that the ribbon curves again at that point. In Wendy’s book “Botanical Drawing in Color” on Pages 86 and 87 there is a lesson on drawing a ribbon with twists and turns that illustrates what I have described above. I hope that helps!
Hi Bonny- also in the Botanical Basics video lessons Wendy has two videos on drawing ribbons, one intro lesson #34 and one advanced lesson #38 which are a great reference. This time of year there are no shortage of ribbons to draw! Happy Holidays!
Hi Bonny, This is a fun drawing. I found the Brian Poetter videos, and they are fun, but he doesn’t approach his ribbon drawings with correct light source information. Instead of drawing imaginary ribbons, you might find it helpful to set a real ribbon up in the correct light source so that you can really see what’s happening with the light on the form. When choosing a ribbon, I would start with one that is pretty opaque so that you don’t have to worry about translucency or transparency. If you can find a ribbon that has wire in it, that can be helpful too because it won’t be as floppy as some ribbons. Another great exercise is to just take a strip of white paper, color on long edge one color and the other long edge another so that you can really study what happens to those edges as they disappear and reappear. Hope this helps!
You can also draw a line on one edge of a ribbon to help. And I like to think about each roll as a cylinder. So, if it’s easier for you to “see” how a simple cylinder would be toned, you can set up a cylinder in the correct light and tilt it in the same way as a roll in your ribbon. I’m attaching a photo to show you what I mean.
Thanks! and thanks for the photo. I’ll admit that I’m struggling with the course in general which is why I look for things online to help me get some background. I know there was a similar lesson, but your picture is helpful.
I have NO experience with ribbons. Makes me a little dizzy. Found online class, by Brian Poetter, middle school art teacher, which helped me a lot. Shading is difficult!
Hi Bonny! I can see how it could make you dizzy! I would start by doing less sections of ribbon and add more configurations as you get more comfortable with it. Using the center (curviest) section of ribbon as an example – it is too uniform. Both sides are done the same and that would not be the case. Because of that I can not tell which side your light source is coming from. The shadow toning would not stop at the half way point as shown. On sides of the ribbon that are exposed more to the light, the toning would not come out as far from the bend or be as dark as the sides of the ribbon that are on the other side of the light source. The inside bends would be darkest as you have done, but then transition lighter (and have a highlight) before you have a shadow again at the outside bend. This is to convey that the ribbon curves again at that point. In Wendy’s book “Botanical Drawing in Color” on Pages 86 and 87 there is a lesson on drawing a ribbon with twists and turns that illustrates what I have described above. I hope that helps!
Hi Bonny- also in the Botanical Basics video lessons Wendy has two videos on drawing ribbons, one intro lesson #34 and one advanced lesson #38 which are a great reference. This time of year there are no shortage of ribbons to draw! Happy Holidays!
Thanks for your comments. I’ll try again. I need more practice. Don’t quite see it.
Hi Bonny, This is a fun drawing. I found the Brian Poetter videos, and they are fun, but he doesn’t approach his ribbon drawings with correct light source information. Instead of drawing imaginary ribbons, you might find it helpful to set a real ribbon up in the correct light source so that you can really see what’s happening with the light on the form. When choosing a ribbon, I would start with one that is pretty opaque so that you don’t have to worry about translucency or transparency. If you can find a ribbon that has wire in it, that can be helpful too because it won’t be as floppy as some ribbons. Another great exercise is to just take a strip of white paper, color on long edge one color and the other long edge another so that you can really study what happens to those edges as they disappear and reappear. Hope this helps!
Thanks! and thanks for the photo. I’ll admit that I’m struggling with the course in general which is why I look for things online to help me get some background. I know there was a similar lesson, but your picture is helpful.