How To Shade Drawings: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Easy Tricks for Shading in Your Pencil Drawings Download Article 6 ways to add dark and light values to your art to make it pop Co-authored by Kelly Medford and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: June 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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This article was co-authored by Kelly Medford and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 973,384 times.

Shading creates the illusion of depth in your drawing by adding dark shadows and bright highlights. When you want to add more contrast to your drawings or make them appear 3D, different shades help you achieve a realistic look. If you’re just learning how to draw or it’s just been a while since you last sketched, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn how to shade in any object you’re drawing and what mark-making techniques you can try out on your next piece.

Things You Should Know

• Mark the direction of the light source in your drawing on your paper. Add a light value with the side of your pencil across your drawing for light- and mid-tones.
• Darken the core shadow where the light source ends by applying more pressure with your pencil. Lessen the pressure to make smooth transitions between values.
• Use an eraser to lighten areas with bright highlights closest to the light source. Add a dark drop shadow underneath the object to make it 3-dimensional.

Steps

Section 1 of 2:

Shading Objects in a Drawing

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1. 1 Shade in a value scale from light to dark on a piece of paper. Draw a long rectangle and sketch in lines to separate it into 7–10 equally-shaped blocks. Shade the block on one side of the rectangle as dark as you can to use for the deepest shadows. Then, color in the next block so it has a value, or shade, that’s slightly lighter than the first. Make each block progressively lighter until you reach the other end of the rectangle. Leave the last block empty to use as the brightest highlights in your drawing.[1]
   • Making a value scale before you start shading your drawing helps you visualize the range of tones you’re able to add to your art.
   • When you’re first putting in the darkest tone, apply the most pressure with your pencil or drawing tool. As you work to lighter shades, gradually reduce the amount of pressure you apply so you’re not pressing so hard against the paper. That way, your transitions between shades will be smoother and more consistent.
2. 2 Mark the direction of the light source on your paper. The position of the light source determines where the darkest shadows and the brightest highlights appear on the object you’re shading. Draw an arrow or a small sun where the light source appears in your drawing. The side of the object closest to the light source will be brighter and have highlights, while the furthest side will have darker shadows.[2]
   • Try working from real life or a photograph to visualize how light affects the shading of the object you’re drawing. If you set up a still life, move lights around to see how the areas of light and shadow change.
   • If you’re drawing from your imagination, choose a focal point in your drawing for the highlights. People looking at your drawing are typically drawn to the lightest areas.
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3. 3 Apply light pressure with your pencil to create a base layer of shading. If you’re shading with graphite, start with a soft 4B pencil to create a middle shade.[3] Hold the pencil on its side, and move your elbow or shoulder rather than your wrist to lay down the shading in long strokes with a smooth transition.[4]
   • Avoid pressing too hard with the tip of your pencil because it will make your marks more difficult if you want to adjust the values later on.
   • Rest your drawing hand on a separate piece of paper while you’re shading to prevent any accidental smudges on your drawing.
   • If you’re using ink or a permanent medium, then avoid shading in the areas closest to the light source for now.
4. 4 Shade in the object’s core shadow with the darkest value. Draw dotted lines coming from your light source to the edges of the object you’re shading. The core shadow is the darkest shade, and it forms a darker band where the light source intersects the edges. Press slightly harder with your pencil to add in the darkest value, following the contours of the object so it looks three-dimensional.[5]
   • Rounded shapes like spheres have reflected shadows on the side furthest from the light source. Leave a thin strip of slightly lighter shadows along the opposite edge of the object.
5. 5 Lighten areas closest to the light source with an eraser. Work gently with your eraser to lighten the areas in layers to develop a smooth transition from light to dark. Apply light pressure to transition smoothly from the mid-tone shade to a lighter tone. Where the highlights are most intense closest to the light source, erase all your pencil marks to reveal the paper underneath for the brightest value.[6]
   • To really make your highlights pop, use a white pencil or pastel to make solid areas of white.
   • If you’re drawing objects with a metallic finish, make the highlight brighter than if you were drawing something with a matte finish.
   • Use a clickable eraser to erase small detailed areas for highlighting things like wrinkles or creases in clothing.
6. 6 Add a drop shadow under the object to give the drawing more depth. Continue the dotted lines from your light source past the edges of the object until they intersect the surface below it to find the edges of your drop shadow. Sketch in the rough shape of your shadow with the side of your pencil and shade it in. Use the darkest values just below the object, and smoothly transition to lighter shade toward the edges.[7]
   • The hardness of the drop shadow’s outline depends on the strength of your light source. Brighter lights create a harder edge while dim lights make the edges look softer.
   • Look at a reference photograph or a still-life to see how the light angle affects the drop shadow.
7. 7 Get a smooth finish by blending your marks with a smudge stick. Mix your values together, working from the lightest part of your drawing to the darkest. Rub your shading with the side of the smudge stick to create smooth transitions between the different values. If you need to blend tight, detailed spaces, then use the tip of the smudge stick.[8]
   • If you don’t have a smudge stick, then try blending with a paintbrush or with a paper towel.
   • Avoid using your fingers to blend your drawings. Your finger isn’t as precise as a smudge stick and the oils from your skin could leave marks on your drawing over time.
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Section 2 of 2:

Shading Techniques

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1. 1 Hatching Hatching is a series of horizontal, vertical, or angled parallel lines meant to simulate shadows in your drawing.[9] Keep the lines spaced closer together to make darker shadows or place them further apart to make that part of the drawing look brighter. Try to pull hatching lines in one long stroke to keep them uniform.
   • Follow the contours of objects with your lines to help simulate a three-dimensional form. For example, shade a round object with curved lines rather than straight lines.
2. 2 Cross-hatching Cross-hatching builds onto hatch marks by adding a second layer of lines going in an perpendicular direction.[10] First, make parallel horizontal lines and then layer vertical lines on top of them to darken the value. Keep the lines spaced out to lighten the shade or densely pack them together for the darkest shadows.
   • Leave some of your initial hatch marks without a second layer of cross-hatching to accentuate areas with lighter shadows.
3. 3 Stippling Stippling is a stylized shading technique where you tap your pencil on your paper to create a series of dots for your shadows. Darken the shadows of your drawing by placing the dots close to one another, and space them further apart when you want to transition toward a lighter value.[11]
   • Stippling works especially great when you’re drawing with pens or markers.
   • Alternatively, try making short lines that overlap instead of dots to shade your art in a more Impressionist style.
4. 4 Blending While the other shading techniques leave small marks on your drawing, blending your drawing gives a smooth appearance to your light and dark values. Use the side of a soft graphite pencil and a smudge stick to blend the values. Increase the amount of pressure you apply to the paper to transition to darker shades.[12] [13]
   • Art pencils have varying degrees of hardness. Soft graphite is labeled with the letter B and gets softer with a higher number. Hard graphite is labeled with the letter H and is more difficult to smooth out if the number is higher. Standard number 2 pencils have an HB hardness, which is a medium between hard and soft graphite.
5. 5 Scumbling Scumbling is using short scribbled lines to add values to your shading. If you want to darken a shadow, make small, tight scribbles and overlap them so the paper isn’t showing through the mark-making. When you want to have lighter shadows, make looser scribbles with more space in between them so the highlights can show through.
   • For a more stylized look, try making the values with one continuous line rather than picking up your pencil.
   • Scrumbling works great for quickly sketching in values with pens and markers.
6. 6 Circling Keep your pencil on the paper and make small overlapping circles across the shaded area of your drawing. Apply more pressure and make tighter overlaps when you want to make shadows appear darker, and lighten up when you reach the highlighted areas of your drawing.[14]
   • Circling works great if you’re shading with colored pencils.
   • Circling also hides the individual marks from your pencil, so it’s great for creating smooth transitions between light and dark.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question How do I shade basic forms? Kelly Medford Professional Artist Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art. Kelly Medford Professional Artist Expert Answer There are a variety of techniques you can use, but hatching and cross-hatching are very popular to try. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 19
• Question What can I use to shade drawings? Kelly Medford Professional Artist Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art. Kelly Medford Professional Artist Expert Answer Use the side of a soft 4B pencil if you want smooth, uniform shading in your drawing. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 17
• Question Is there a way to shade on drawing apps that don't use layers? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer You can shade drawings all on the same layer, but it will also affect the line drawing you've made. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 24 Helpful 45

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Tips

• Practice shading simple shapes like cones, cubes, cylinders, and spheres. These shapes are the building blocks of other objects you’ll draw, so perfecting them now makes complicated shapes much easier to shade in the future. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Charcoal and graphite are the easiest media to work with if you’re trying to get a smooth blended finish. Pens, markers, and ink are best shaded with a form of hatching. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

• When shading with pencil or ink, work from left to right if you're right-handed; this way you won't accidentally smudge your hard work with your hand. If you're left-handed, work from right to left.

Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Things You’ll Need

• Paper
• 4B art pencil
• Eraser
• White pencil or pastel
• Clickable eraser
• Smudge stick

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References

1. ↑ https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/Shades-and-Shadows.pdf
2. ↑ https://www.math.brown.edu/tbanchof/DrawingTutorial/3dshading.html
3. ↑ Kelly Medford. Professional Artist. Expert Interview
4. ↑ https://www.designreview.byu.edu/collections/learn-to-sketch-shading-and-shadowing-cylinders
5. ↑ https://arb.umn.edu/blog/2020/05/28/kids-activity-shadow-drawing
6. ↑ https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/Shades-and-Shadows.pdf
7. ↑ https://und.edu/academics/online/enroll-anytime/art230.html
8. ↑ https://www.strujillo.ca/uploads/2/9/2/4/29246107/gtglightandshadowpart2.pdf
9. ↑ Kelly Medford. Professional Artist. Expert Interview

More References (5)

10. ↑ Kelly Medford. Professional Artist. Expert Interview
11. ↑ https://www.everettsd.org/cms/lib/WA01920133/Centricity/Domain/1174/drawing%20activity%20cards.pdf
12. ↑ Kelly Medford. Professional Artist. Expert Interview
13. ↑ https://artprojectsforkids.org/how-to-blend-colors/
14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92hOUw1elLo

About This Article

Co-authored by: Kelly Medford Professional Artist This article was co-authored by Kelly Medford and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art. This article has been viewed 973,384 times. 56 votes - 73% Co-authors: 59 Updated: June 3, 2025 Views: 973,384 Categories: Coloring and Shading Article SummaryX

To shade drawings, start by deciding where the light is coming from in your drawing so you know where the shadows and highlights will fall. Then, lightly shade in your entire drawing to create a base layer of shading. Next, go back and heavily shade the parts of your drawing that are hidden from the light so they're the darkest. Finally, erase the parts of your drawing that the light is directly shining on to create white highlights. To learn different shading techniques you can use, like cross-hatching, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Kelly Medford Professional Artist 56 votes - 73% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 59 Updated: June 3, 2025 Views: 973,384

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