Hi @dougmilne I’m grateful for your feedback on my past posts and I’m wondering if I can ask you a question about shading. By the time I’ve come back to work on the paperwhites, they have shriveled and I’m not able to get the same angle with my light source. Due to this I’ve improvised the shading. Wondering what is the best way to make a subject look realistic once the subject is no longer in the same form.. Thank you! Faye
Hi Faye- it has been nice to see the drawing process of your paper whites. They look good on the Kraft paper. Drawing live plant material is a challenge! One tool to use is a camera. Take a picture when the plant is fresh and is set up as you are going to draw it. It is a great reference. Another option is to get another fresh sample of the plant, which is not always possible. Using books and the internet to find samples of the plant you are drawing is an option. Sometimes you get lucky and find an example that really helps. And in general that can also help guide you to how the plant should be shaded. I have to run out, but I will do another post with some suggestions for this image.
Hi Faye- there are a couple of suggestions for these paper whites. First would be to shade the top of the stem where it meets the flower petals. The petals would cast a shadow on the stem and the shape of the petal will help determine the size and shape of the shadow. Remember that there will be a curve to the shadow on the right hand side of the stem to emphasize that the the stem is an elongated cylinder (giving the stem form). Although narrow, the stem should have a range of tones – highlight to darker – to again emphasize the form of the stem. Same goes for the ovaries. For the flower, upon close inspection white flowers will often have a hint of color on the petals and stigma. Depending on the flower it maybe a light to medium green, or yellow, or pink, etc. If petals do have a hint of a color it helps give your drawing more realism and definition. In addition, using a pale grey for the shadow toning helps the white from getting muddied. The cup shape surrounding the stigma on the paper white should have shading on the cup to convey it’s form. Consider the direction of the light source to know where it would be lightest and darkest. Adding darker toning at the base of the cup will make it stand out. Also consider if the cup/stigma would cast a shadow. With the light source coming at a 45 degree angle from the left, the petals on the left will be more in shadow, especially getting darker nearer the center. Where petals overlap there should be shadow toning and as I mentioned, the center cup will most likely cast a shadow onto some of the petals on the right side. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions. Looking at reference pictures should help too.
@dougmilne Thank you so much for your feedback! This is incredibly helpful. Taking a photo or using a reference from the internet or book makes a lot of sense. The shading and light source is the trickiest element for me. I also started with a pencil that cut too sharply into the kraft paper which led to my initial sketch being overly defined and not integrated. I am going to explore applying your shading feedback… Thank you very much, Doug!
Hi @dougmilne I’m grateful for your feedback on my past posts and I’m wondering if I can ask you a question about shading. By the time I’ve come back to work on the paperwhites, they have shriveled and I’m not able to get the same angle with my light source. Due to this I’ve improvised the shading. Wondering what is the best way to make a subject look realistic once the subject is no longer in the same form.. Thank you! Faye
Hi Faye- it has been nice to see the drawing process of your paper whites. They look good on the Kraft paper. Drawing live plant material is a challenge! One tool to use is a camera. Take a picture when the plant is fresh and is set up as you are going to draw it. It is a great reference. Another option is to get another fresh sample of the plant, which is not always possible. Using books and the internet to find samples of the plant you are drawing is an option. Sometimes you get lucky and find an example that really helps. And in general that can also help guide you to how the plant should be shaded. I have to run out, but I will do another post with some suggestions for this image.
Hi Faye- there are a couple of suggestions for these paper whites. First would be to shade the top of the stem where it meets the flower petals. The petals would cast a shadow on the stem and the shape of the petal will help determine the size and shape of the shadow. Remember that there will be a curve to the shadow on the right hand side of the stem to emphasize that the the stem is an elongated cylinder (giving the stem form). Although narrow, the stem should have a range of tones – highlight to darker – to again emphasize the form of the stem. Same goes for the ovaries. For the flower, upon close inspection white flowers will often have a hint of color on the petals and stigma. Depending on the flower it maybe a light to medium green, or yellow, or pink, etc. If petals do have a hint of a color it helps give your drawing more realism and definition. In addition, using a pale grey for the shadow toning helps the white from getting muddied. The cup shape surrounding the stigma on the paper white should have shading on the cup to convey it’s form. Consider the direction of the light source to know where it would be lightest and darkest. Adding darker toning at the base of the cup will make it stand out. Also consider if the cup/stigma would cast a shadow. With the light source coming at a 45 degree angle from the left, the petals on the left will be more in shadow, especially getting darker nearer the center. Where petals overlap there should be shadow toning and as I mentioned, the center cup will most likely cast a shadow onto some of the petals on the right side. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions. Looking at reference pictures should help too.
@dougmilne Thank you so much for your feedback! This is incredibly helpful. Taking a photo or using a reference from the internet or book makes a lot of sense. The shading and light source is the trickiest element for me. I also started with a pencil that cut too sharply into the kraft paper which led to my initial sketch being overly defined and not integrated. I am going to explore applying your shading feedback… Thank you very much, Doug!