"Designing with light and shadow is one of the most powerful tools I use to bring my figures to life. It's more than just copying what I see. I use light and shadow to shape the form, guide the viewer's eye, and create mood and feeling. When used with purpose, they also help design the composition by adding structure, movement and clarity to the drawing."
"There are two aspects to the process of designing light. First, I take a moment to observe quietly and with purpose. I look at the light, the pose, the background and anything else that sparks an idea or inspires me. Then, once I have a clear picture in my mind, I move on to the next phase: crafting and shading."
Designing with light and shadow brings figures to life by shaping form, guiding the viewer's eye, and creating mood, movement, and compositional clarity. The process begins with careful observation of light, pose, background, and visual clues like cast shadows and highlights to establish light location and nature. After observation, intentional crafting and shading translate those decisions into values and shapes that show form and support narrative. Shading functions beyond copying values; it leads the eye and communicates story through value choices, shaped edges, and contrasts. These principles apply across media, from pencils to digital tablets, and suit both study and imaginative work.
Read at Creative Bloq
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