Draw and Shade With Pencil

Many people sketch drawings and then color them in. However, you can draw without erasing the sketch, and complete it all in pencil. This is a popular way to draw, and today this article will show you how to do it. This is only one method among many; find out what works for you, and branch off.

Steps

  1. Sketch the base. This does not have to be perfect, so don't make it perfect. Think of it as guidelines, not laws. Sketch it lightly. If you sketch too dark, there will be lines that you do not want in the finished drawing.
  2. Begin to outline the drawing. Remember to make this very light; you'll be darkening it later. 'Flesh out' your character or design by adding the layers like skin, fur, clothing, etc. Add the outlines.
  3. Darken the outlines that you're happy with. Making them dark will ensure that they stay in the paper when you erase anything you don't need. But don't make them too dark, yet!
  4. Add shading where the lines meet. Right now, you don't need to worry about light source. Adding a small bit of shading on every cross section of the lines gives it depth and weight. This process is often called 'weighting' a picture. It can make the difference between a flat image and an image that pops out at you.
    • This makes the difference between picture one and picture two at right:
  5. Imagine where the light source will be and begin to shade appropriately. Do it lightly and in small strokes; the best way to shade is in layers
    • Some people sketch a small circle or other object to indicate the light source. This can be a good method if you aren't handy at visualizing where the light is coming from.
  6. Smudge or blend the shading. Using a tissue or the tip of your finger, press on the shading and smudge is to lay it out evenly. Don't worry about getting it over a larger area than you need or out of the lines; you'll be erasing mistakes later.
  7. Using a kneaded or pointed edge of an eraser, erase the places where the light source will be.
  8. Continue to sketch, smudge and erase so you get a gradient of light to dark in the shading.the more you do this, the darker and more in-depth your shading will be. This process can take a few minutes or days depending on how much you want to do it.
  9. Erase around the outlines and darken your final curves and shadows. Add extra highlights for an even shinier look.
  10. Once you're satisfied, step back and enjoy it. Forget anything? Need more shading in a certain area? Add any finishing details. Done.

Tips

  • Using your finger to smudge is easier for some people because they can see what they're doing and have more control. However, watch out about smudging it in other places off of your finger.
  • Be very careful when smudging. Sure, it's an easy and pain-free way of getting the job done, but with the tiniest slip up the whole thing could turn chaotic! Be sure not to favor smudging too much, only on the parts you think is necessary. Regularly clean your fingers so you don't create fingerprints on your work!
  • Take your time! If you rush, you'll mess up the lines or shading.

Warnings

  • Don't press too hard! Instead of putting pressure, add layers. This helps just in case you make a mistake.
  • Watch where you put your hands! If you drag your hand across the penciling, it can smudge what you've drawn. Also, having pencil on your hand can place it elsewhere if you set your hand down.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Paper
  • A nice eraser
  • Tissue (optional)

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