Pencil portraits pastel portrait artist
 Pencil portraits
 Family
 Children
 Babies
 Homes
 Figures
 Pencil portraits Dogs
 Cats
 Horses
 Sketch by Email
 Pastel portraits
 Family
 Children
 Babies
 Homes
 Figures
 Pastel portraits Dogs
 Cats
 Horses
 Charcoal portraits
 Celebrities
 Wildlife
 Other drawings
 Home
 

 Light and shade in portraiture - information for you about light and shade in portraiture


Light and shade in portraiture is the second principle and just like anything else without light there is no shade. Wherever light comes from there has got to be shade and the best light and shade portrait is when the light is coming from above and from the front left or right side. The light is coming from the right and above in the example below so you get shadow in the eye sockets and down the left side of the forehead and cheek, underneath the nose, the top lip and under the bottom lip.
 
  
<<Back
Colour theory >>
Line in portraiture >>
Texture in art >>
<< Home
Video excerpt  Compostition in art 5 mins
Light and shade in portraitureIn this example there are dark areas in the portrait and if you were drawing a portrait say in charcoal you would put these in straight away because these show the structure of the face more than any detail you might put in. The light and shadow pattern here is one of the best light and shadow structures you can have in portraiture and there are others of course but this pattern is a well balanced pattern of light against shadow, the light side balances out the shadow side.
 
Light and shade in portraitureWe then come onto the grey areas that emerge from the dark areas and into the light like in between the bridge of the nose, the crease of the right cheek and the dark shadow of the forehead where the middle tones emerge into the light areas. There are other tones but these are details like frown marks and indentations thus we have created tones which gives us an extra dimension to a portrait.
 
Light and shade in portraitureLook at the reflected light on the left side of the face in this example, always put this in because it gives a portrait the feeling of three dimensions. There needs to be a balance of light against dark throughout the picture whether it is a portrait, a landscape or a still life. If you half close your eyes and look at the light and darks in these examples you will see that there is a balance of light against dark, one doesn't outweigh the other. These are the basics of light and shade which you can carry on in portraits, landscapes or any other art you are interested in. We hope you have learned something here.
 
DVD
Light and shade in portraiture.
Light and shade in portraiture
You might like to purchase a 40 minute DVD (Approx) showing how the artist creates a Composition with Colour, Light & Shade, Line and Texture. Only - £12.95 - $22.00 Paypal will automatically convert to your currency. See more DVDs/CDs  >>>

<<Back
Colour theory in art >>
<<Home

Email us even if its just for a chat
We reply to you today.
Email Roger

 


 

Pencil portraits

Pastel portraits

Portrait artistHome

Copyright Picturedrawİ 2008 All Rights Reserved Light and shade in Portraiture

 To Order & Prices
Read about Roger
The Portrait artist

Your questions
What customers say
Portrait artist
About your photos
Portrait quality close up
How to send photo email
Artists studio
Your privacy
 How to order/Prices
Email roger
 He replies to you in 1 hour
 Tel.  01924 522545
 For Artists
Composition and more
How to draw portraits
Pencil demonstrations
Pastel demonstrations
Charcoal demonstrations
 Drawing/Painting DVDs
 Buy two and get one free
 Portrait competition
Drawing tips and tricks
Portrait history
Famous portraits
The Impressionists
Artist's self portraits
Famous eyes match
Art picture quiz
Free Art Screensaver
Art wallpaper paintings
Old drawings/paintings
Submit portrait website
Links
to websites
Sitemap of Picturedraw
Home