This week I learned there are a lot more search engines I should be using than just Google.
While I wasn't aware you could really call them search engines, I had already been using things like Youtube to search for videos, Facebook to find people, and Flickr for pictures. However, I was unaware of just how many search tools there are available on the web for searching for things like documents, movies, news, and more. I will certainly start using the many other search engines for my school and teaching needs from now on.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
Example of Pencil Shading – a Tutorial
Some people have asked
me how I shade my drawings. Well the truth is, it varies. Here, I will
demonstrate one way I tackle drawing and shading in hopes that this helps clear
some doubts for those who wish to learn at least little bit about drawing and
shading with pencils. With this approach, you really won’t need anything fancy
to draw, so this is great for beginners!!! (I hope)
Tools:
Mechanical pencil
Eraser
Tissue (Klinex or any
brand, not the scented kind please)
Regular printer paper
or cardboard paper for more durability
I like to start a
drawing with some basic guide lines to show me what the subject is like. These
can be as simple or complex as you like. Keep in mind that it should not be your goal to copy something exactly, unless of course you are trying to replicate a photo, or a portrait of someone, but save that fancy stuff for another time! We want to just practice basics here, after all!!
I then closely study
the details of my subject and start sketching things like the legs.
Some parts may seem
more complicated, so you may want to break them up into boxes and circles, like
I did with the hands and the elbows and arms.
You may continue
drawing the details in with the help of the guide lines. You may start erasing
them whenever you feel comfortable to ensure clean shading later on.
Here, I started to draw
in more details such as the eye and the branch this Pokemon, Groovyle, is
standing on. I don’t like how the eye turned out AT ALL, though!! But I can fix it by
simply erasing it and trying again, so no worries!! :D
There we go! Now the
initial sketch is pretty much complete. Doesn’t Groovyle look much fiercer now? Some
people stop at this stage, but if you wish, you may continue on to the shading
part. Be sure you are at least pretty darn satisfied with your sketch first,
though, since changing your drawing later on will be much more difficult, and
will probably look more dirty and messy!!
Moving on to the shading. I start by adding some
lighter lines where I know the borders of the shading will be, and I fill some
places where I know the tone will be darker with some straight lines. This can
add some style, but you can do it however you please. It just helps me
visualize a little more.
Now, as you can see, I’ve
added some different kind of shading and filled in a few more areas of shadow.
At this point, I have
lightly blended the shaded areas with a tissue, being very careful not to “bleed”
into the lighter areas. Doing this may take a little practice, just try to fold
your tissue and lightly press it on the paper, while stroking in the direction
you are to blend into. You may use circular motions, light dabbing, or whatever floats your boat!
Continue adding more
shade and blending the lighter areas. Be sure to use the clean part of the tissue
every time you shade lighter areas, and go back to the dark areas if you need
to, to make them look darker of course.
Here I have moved on
to shading the leaves on Groovyle’s arms. I have also darkened its body
further. I have also started shading in the tree, but with squiggly lines to emulate
a wrinkly texture, because trees are wrinkly like that XD
Once all the areas
have been blended, and all the shadows have been retouched in case the
blending left them too light, you may call this practically done!!! However, if
you wish, you may add highlights as you will see in the next picture.
Now with the eraser,
very carefully, I have added some highlights on the body of the pokemon. I also
did something to the branch to make it blend into the background more. You can
do this by lightly tapping the eraser on the area to make it lighter. The
eraser must be clean, and smooth, however. If you wish, you may stand back and
see If there are details you forgot. Don’t feel ashamed to go back and change a
few things. Once you are happy, you may sign your work and show it off to your
friends!! (or give it to that boy/girl you like hehe)
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