How I learned to 3D-shade my drawings - YouTube Art School
TLDRIn this YouTube Art School video, the artist shares their journey to mastering 3D shading in their 2D drawings. They began by copying other artists' works and using real photos as references, which helped them learn but felt incomplete. A pivotal moment came when they read a book on simplification, leading to the realization that simplifying complex shapes into basic volumes made shading more intuitive. They emphasize the importance of understanding light and shadow, including the full range of values and the concept of cast and proximity shadows. The artist also recommends using 3D models for reference to improve observational skills. They conclude with a promotion for their art education program, Art School for Digital Artists, and offer free resources such as a custom brush bag and exercise files for further practice.
Takeaways
- 🎨 **Understanding Shading**: Shading is crucial for making 2D drawings appear more three-dimensional and lively, but if done poorly, it can make the artwork look dirty and muddy.
- 🖋️ **Starting with Copying**: One of the first steps in learning to shade is by copying the work of other artists, which helps in understanding the basics and improving skills over time.
- 📚 **Simplification**: Simplifying complex shapes into basic geometric volumes is key to better shading. This allows artists to focus on the essential forms and makes shading more manageable.
- 🔍 **Selective Observation**: Developing the ability to selectively observe and focus on the necessary details from a reference, while ignoring the rest, is a critical skill for artists.
- 🧮 **Values and Contrast**: Proper use of values (light and dark shades) is fundamental in shading. Good shading involves a full range of values, not just black and white.
- 📊 **Levels Curve**: The levels curve in painting software can be a helpful tool to diagnose and correct issues with shading, such as too much contrast or incorrect lightness/darkness.
- 🌞 **Light and Shadow**: Understanding the difference between cast shadows (formed when an object blocks light) and proximity shadows (formed when objects are close together) is essential for realistic shading.
- 💡 **Mental Exercises**: Imagining oneself as the light source can help in visualizing and creating accurate cast shadows, which are often challenging to depict from imagination.
- 📐 **3D References**: Using 3D models for reference can greatly improve shading skills by providing a better understanding of how light interacts with different shapes and volumes.
- ✅ **Avoid Common Mistakes**: Two common shading mistakes are using values that are too dark or having too high contrast. Being aware of these can help in creating more realistic and appealing artwork.
- 🎓 **Art Education Program**: Joining a comprehensive art education program like the one mentioned can provide ongoing support and updates, which are beneficial for continuous learning and improvement in shading and other artistic skills.
Q & A
What is the primary purpose of shading in 2D drawings?
-Shading is meant to make 2D drawings feel more 3D and more alive by simulating the effect of light and shadow.
What is simplification in the context of art and how does it help with shading?
-Simplification is the ability of an artist to ignore unnecessary details from a reference and reduce complex forms to their simplest volumes, such as a leg to a cylinder or a head to a sphere. This makes it easier to understand and apply shading effectively.
What is the importance of observing 3D objects and light sources when learning to shade?
-Observing 3D objects and light sources helps artists to better understand how light interacts with different shapes and forms, which is crucial for applying shading in a way that gives the illusion of depth and realism.
How can using 3D models help artists improve their shading skills?
-Using 3D models allows artists to interact with and observe objects from different angles and under various light conditions, which can greatly enhance their understanding of how light and shadow work, thus improving their shading skills.
What is the 'umbrella effect' in shading?
-The umbrella effect refers to the phenomenon where a larger object directly above another object blocks some of the light, causing the area below to have darker values. This is a simple yet effective concept to keep in mind when shading.
What are the two main types of shadows that should be considered when shading?
-The two main types of shadows are cast shadows, which occur when an object blocks light from reaching another surface, and proximity shadows, which are the shadows that form when objects are close enough to block light from each other.
How does the levels curve in painting software help with shading?
-The levels curve in painting software allows artists to visualize and adjust the distribution of values in their artwork. It helps ensure that the values are not too high contrast, too low contrast, too dark, or too bright, and can assist in diagnosing why certain areas of shading may appear off.
What is the difference between cast shadows and proximity shadows?
-Cast shadows take the shape of a somewhat distant object blocking the light, while proximity shadows are a result of objects being so close to each other that they block light from each other. Proximity shadows do not have a specific shape and tend to get darker the closer the objects are.
Why is it recommended to use references when practicing shading?
-Using references helps artists to accurately observe and replicate how light and shadow fall on different objects and surfaces, which is essential for improving their shading techniques and creating more realistic and convincing artwork.
What is the role of values in shading?
-Values represent the lightness or darkness in a piece of artwork and are crucial for shading. They have a range and using the full spectrum of values helps to create a more realistic and less contrasty representation of light and shadow.
What is the significance of the '7th anniversary sale' mentioned in the transcript?
-The '7th anniversary sale' is a special promotion to celebrate seven years of the art education program, Art School for Digital Artists. It offers a significant discount for those interested in joining the program and learning from the instructor's experiences and teachings.
How can artists practice shading with the provided resources?
-Artists can practice shading by using the free custom brush bag provided by the instructor, which includes brushes he uses regularly. Additionally, they can use the exercise files with a collection of drawings for shading practice, available through the link in the video description.
Outlines
🎨 Improving Shading Skills in Artwork
The first paragraph discusses the importance of proper shading in transforming 2D drawings into more lifelike and three-dimensional representations. The speaker shares their journey of learning to shade effectively, starting with copying other artists' works and using real photos as references. They emphasize the concept of simplification, which involves reducing complex subjects to their basic volumes, such as a leg to a cylinder or a head to a sphere. This simplification process makes shading more manageable and understandable. The speaker also highlights the value of observing 3D models and using resources like Sketchfab and 3D Poser Web for reference. They conclude by promoting their art education program, which offers a community for learning and ongoing updates.
🖌️ Mastering Value Use and Shadow Types in Shading
The second paragraph focuses on the nuances of shading, including the use of value ranges and understanding the difference between cast shadows and proximity shadows. The speaker explains that good shading involves a full spectrum of values, not just black and white, and recommends using the levels curve in painting software to ensure a balanced contrast. They caution against common mistakes like overly dark values or high contrast that lacks gray tones. The paragraph also differentiates between cast shadows, which are caused by an object blocking light from reaching a surface, and proximity shadows, which occur when objects are close together, blocking light from one another. The speaker suggests using references and 3D tools to better visualize and practice these concepts. Finally, they offer free resources, including a custom brush bag and exercise files, to aid in learning and practicing shading techniques.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Shading
💡Simplification
💡Volume
💡Cast Shadow
💡Proximity Shadows
💡Values
💡Selective Observation
💡3D Models
💡Sketchfab
💡3D Poser Web
💡Complete Art Education Program
Highlights
Bad shading can make 2D drawings look dirty and muddy.
Shading is used to give 2D drawings a 3D, more alive feel.
The artist started by copying other artists' works to learn shading.
Early Blizzard games booklets were a significant inspiration for the artist.
Simplification is key to understanding and improving shading techniques.
An artist should be able to simplify complex anatomy to basic volumes like cylinders or spheres.
Shading simple volumes makes the process more manageable and convincing.
Selective observation and ignoring unnecessary details is crucial for artists.
The artist's experience as a 3D character artist helped improve their shading skills.
Free 3D models can be used for reference to understand shading better.
Observing and thinking in terms of 3D volumes rather than 2D shapes is essential for good shading.
The artist offers a complete art education program called Art School for digital artists.
Using the full range of values in shading is important for a more realistic look.
The levels curve in painting software can help diagnose shading issues.
Cast shadows are created when an object blocks light from reaching another surface.
Proximity shadows, or ambient occlusion, occur when objects are close together, blocking light.
The artist provides free custom brushes and exercise files for shading practice.
A massive sale is being launched for the 7th anniversary of the Art School program.