Drawing Simplified, Part II: Shadows and Form

One of the basic foundations of a good drawing or painting, besides rendering the proper shape, is good form. Form turns a two-dimensional object into a three-dimensional object, and gives interest to a picture. All objects have form, some more subtle than others, depending on the light source. Shadows provide form to objects and are denoted in values. The number of values (the dark and lightness) to a form depends on the light source, how close it is and how strong it is.

Shadows

Shadows provide dimension to an object. The shadow shape is the most discernable shape of value of an object. It is opposite the light source and reveals both the form (a solid shape with volume) and plane (a flattened area of a form) of an object.

Shadow Edges

Depending on the object, the edges of a shadow can be either sharp or soft. Observing an angular or planed object, as one plane meets another and turns away from the light, the shadow edges are sharp. For a curved object, the shadow edge is soft with a gradual shift in tone.

Distance also plays a part in the edges of a shadow. If the light source is close to the object, the cast shadow is softer on the edges. As you pull the light away from an object, the cast shadow is longer and has sharper edges.

The Seven Elements of Design

There are seven elements of design, considered to be the building blocks that all modes of art are based. The seven elements are Line, Shape, Form, Space, Texture, Value and Color. If you are an art student, you should look for these elements when designing your artwork. If you are an appreciator of art, you should seek these elements when you observe art.

Line

Lines are points in space where the length is greater than the width. They mark the distance between two points and can be straight or curved. In visual art, lines don't only need to be made with marks and outlines, but can also be implied or abstract. They can be used to create shape and form, as well as give a sense of depth and structure. Lines are the foundation of drawing and stand alone as a powerful visual tool. Depending on the types of lines—continuous, broken, vertical, jagged, horizontal—you can drastically change the feeling of an artwork.

Shape

Shape is the result of closed, two-dimensional flat lines. They can be geometric, such as squares or triangles, or they can be organic, have no defined parameters and are more curved and abstract. Shapes in art can be used to control how the viewer perceives a piece. For instance, triangles can help draw the eye to a particular point, while circles represent continuity.

Form

When a shape acquires depth and becomes three-dimensional, then it takes on form. Cylinders, pyramids, and spheres are some of the more common forms, though they can also be amorphous. In sculpture, form is of the utmost importance, though it can easily be introduced into drawing and painting using 3D art techniques.

Space

pace can be manipulated based on how an artist places lines, shapes, forms, and color. Space can be either positive or negative. Positive space is an area occupied by an object or form, while negative space is an area that runs between, through, around, or within objects. Artists often think about the foreground, middle ground, and background of their artwork, purposefully placing shapes and lines throughout the space to achieve the perfect composition.

Texture

Texture is how an object looks or feels. Sometimes texture is tangible, such as in sculpture. It also can be implied, as for example a sketch of the fur on an animal. Smooth, rough, hard, soft, furry, fluffy, and bumpy are just some different textures that evoke different responses.

Value

Value is the lightness or darkness in color. The lightest value is white and the darkest value is black. The difference between values is contrast. The lightest value is white and the darkest value is black, with the difference between them defined as the contrast. Playing with value can not only change certain forms, but also influence the mood of the artwork.

Value is so important that the Italians created a term—chiaroscuro—that specifically refers to the use of light and dark in a piece of art. Photographer Ansel Adams is an example of an artist who expertly used value to his advantage by using areas of contrast to create interest in his landscape photography.

Color

By working with hue, value, and intensity—three building blocks of colors—artists can tap into a wide range of emotions. There's nothing that changes an artwork's emotional impact more than color. Masters like Van Gogh, Monet, and Toulouse-Lautrec all expertly manipulated color in their art to provoke different feelings. Color can be used symbolically or to create a pattern. It can be selected for contrast or to set a specific mood.