Why your shading makes the drawing look messy

Hello, Artists!

Have you ever felt that your drawing looks flat even after adding plenty of shading? You might try to emphasize the lights and darks thinking the contrast is too weak, but instead of becoming more 3D, the drawing just starts to look messy.

Today, let’s talk about the root cause of this problem and the solution: the Terminator (Shadow Edge).

🥚 Reality vs. Illusion: The Egg Model

First, let's look at this image of an egg.

We often think that the surface gets darker at a constant, steady rate from the light to the shadow. But if you look closely at the reality, the value change within the broad area facing the light is actually quite subtle because the surface is gradual.

The real drama—the most extreme tonal shift—is compressed into a narrow zone where the plane turns away from the light: the Terminator.

👤 Common Mistakes in Figure Drawing (A vs. B)

Let's apply this principle to the human face. Here are two different cases.

The main reason we ruin our drawings is that we tend to draw like Case A.

Out of a desire to explain every little bump, we add excessive contrast and split mid-tones even within the light areas. When contrast is scattered everywhere like this, the sense of a "large mass" disappears, and the drawing becomes incredibly cluttered.

✅ The Answer: Compress the change at the edge

On the other hand, a drawing with a strong sense of volume follows the logic of Case B.

The tones in the light area are kept as simple as possible. All the significant tonal shifts are compressed tightly around the Terminator. When you give up minor details for the sake of the "big flow," the form finally reveals itself as sharp and solid.

✍️ The Solution: The Fail-Proof Shading Sequence

To avoid these mistakes, remember this order:

1. Group Large Areas: Divide light and shadow into big masses based on the light direction and lay down a basic shadow tone.

2. Lock the Value: Consider this initial shadow tone as the 'brightest base value' for that area. The key is to prevent any sudden bright spots from jumping out later.

3. Build Gradually: Stack darker tones one step at a time on top of that base. Work slowly, making it feel sharper as you approach the Terminator.

Light and shadow become complex the more you add, but the subject becomes clearer the more you simplify. Trust the power of restraint in your next drawing!

Keep drawing,

Brooks

P.S. Are you struggling with specific rendering techniques or finding the right values? Simply reply to this email or reach out to [email protected] and let me know. I'd love to help!