A feature of human visual perception is to determine the shape and size of an object depending on the degree of its illumination. Chiaroscuro in a drawing creates the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface using light and dark shapes. Since the light hitting the object is distributed unevenly and at different angles, the degree of illumination of its various sides also varies greatly. Chiaroscuro in a drawing is a set of objective conditions on the basis of which a gradation of light and dark shades of light arises on the surface of an object. You can create realistic images only by learning to understand and see how light and shadow are distributed according to the shape of an object in the surrounding world. The perception of the mass, volume, location of the object depends on the correct work with chiaroscuro in the drawing. But this alone is not enough - practice is also important. Start by learning the basic components of chiaroscuro in a pencil drawing, but don't stop there - keep drawing,improving your skills.
Light and dark side of the object
The subject is always divided into two large parts: the zone of light and the zone of shadow. The light zone or light side is the part of the subject that is closer to the light source and takes on most of the illumination. A flat object has no shadow. When creating a drawing, the artist must immediately determine where the lightest part of the subject will be, and where the darkest. The whiteness of the paper and the deepest tone of the pencil are the two limiting points for tonal stretching. There is a contrast stretch when a very light and very dark tone is taken. With nuance stretching, two very close tones are taken. In good work, there is always only one place where there is a point of maximum light and one - maximum dark. These are the tuning forks of light. Everything else is stretching. Illumination depends on the angle of incidence of light - the smaller the angle, the less light hits the surface.
Saturation of chiaroscuro
Saturation varies depending on the structure of the surface and the amount of light that hits it. If several objects are at different distances from the light source, the chiaroscuro in the picture will change depending on their distance. In addition, light can be scattered and concentrated at one point. In the first case, the contrasts will be more pronounced and distinct. Objects that are close have more contrasting chiaroscuro than those that are far away. Due to the featuresof human perception, objects of different colors and their chiaroscuro can also be visually different.
Penumbra and its features
On rounded objects in the area of contact with oblique rays of light, a smooth transition from the light part to the dark part is formed, which is an intermediate state between light and shadow - penumbra. It is in this zone that you can see the subject's own tone. On objects based on clear rectangular shapes, this zone stands out separately and is located between the light and dark sides. The border of chiaroscuro depends on the shape of the subject and can look very different. It is usually fuzzy and consists of gradations of tone.
What is the shadow zone?
Shadow zone or dark side - part of the object opposite the light source. Own shadow - a place where lighting does not fall. There is also a drop shadow - this is the darkest zone, it forms on surfaces. Depending on the location of the source, it can fall on the plane where the object, background or other objects are located. Its shape depends on the object itself and may change due to the structure of the surface on which it is directed. The peculiarity of the falling shadow is that it is always a little darker than its own. Since light can be reflected from neighboring objects, its structure is not uniform. The drop shadow and own shadow do not have to have clear boundaries - they consist of smooth tone transitions. The light reflected from the surface of the object partially brightens the shadow part and creates a reflection. Reflex isa kind of illumination of the shadow, but it is always lighter than it and darker than the light. There will always be such a zone at the edge of the form. The reflex is also present on the side of the object, which is closer to the light source, but there it is less noticeable, and becomes more active in the shadow zone. The shadow itself is not a solid spot with the same tone. Working with her in drawing is a special art.
The light side of the object and its components
What parts in the figure with chiaroscuro will the light side consist of? The place where the maximum amount of light hits and from which the maximum amount of light is reflected is called a glare. It is most pronounced on glossy and convex surfaces. Further, the light will, as it were, fade away, and reduce the intensity until it goes into the penumbra zone. The slow transition from one shade to another is called gradation. Much depends on the amount of light and on the reflective surface. But in any case, the movement of tone along the form will be smooth, and not with sharp transitions. The correct tone stretching is exactly what helps to convey chiaroscuro in the drawing. The light will gradually move into the shadow zone, after which a reflex will occur. It is worth noting one feature - when working with chiaroscuro, the lines of the subject disappear. All transitions between the light and dark side of the subject are created using tonal stretching.
Laws of chiaroscuro in drawing
To trace the development of light and shadow on the shape, let's create a sketch of a sphere. You can select objects yourself by arranging them onsheet in an arbitrary way, but it is easier to start with a rounded shape. Draw a horizon line and draw a circle on the sheet. Let's choose the direction of the light by marking it on the sheet. Then, on a circle, we draw an approximate boundary between the separation of light and shadow. Remember that at the final stage of work, all lines will disappear. Having determined the angle of incidence of light, we note the approximate location of the falling shadow. The correct definition of the light source is one of the basics of chiaroscuro in a drawing.
Figure with chiaroscuro step by step
Now let's apply a medium tone to the ball - it should not be too dark or too light, otherwise it will be difficult to make a smooth tonal stretch. If you start with a medium tone, there will be no white spots in the picture, you can simply add tone and change the gradation towards a darker or lighter shade. Then we will create our own and drop shadow. Add a tone above the horizon line. The horizontal surface on which the ball is located must be lighter than the vertical one. Now we create a gradation from the shadow to the light side. This transition should be soft, with a smooth gradation around the circumference. In the fifth step, darken the depth of the falling and own shadows. Don't forget about the reflex and create the illusion of light reflecting at the base of the sphere. At the final stage, outline the highlight on the side that is closest to the light source. Remember that you do not need to create a gradation to pure white. If everything is done correctly, the lines drawn in the first step should disappear, and the volume will be transmitted only by changing the depth of tone.
Working with light and shadow: conclusion
Having understood how chiaroscuro is created on a simple shape, it will be easier to understand how it works with more complex objects. A solid circle without a shadow is perceived as flat. But it is worth adding at least two shadows: one's own and a falling one, and the perception immediately changes. Glare, penumbra, reflex add volume to a flat circle and give it the effect of three-dimensional space. The basis of chiaroscuro in a pencil drawing is a tonal stretch. In the process of creating a drawing, it is important to remember that depending on the structure of the surface, color and the degree of remoteness from the light source, the tone gradation will vary. Glossy smooth objects with a light surface reflect light better, and the construction of chiaroscuro on them will differ from matte and darkened ones. Working in tone implies the absence of a line. If something is darker and something is lighter, a tone appears.
