First Determined Shading Attempt

Pictured are some spheres I attempted to shade realistically. The bottom examples are pretty awful, but I feel I improved (subject to individual opinion) as I moved up the paper. The top left seems like the track I should be rolling down, but would love some experienced advice on what to do to improve the shading/realism/3D effect. I was trying for some incident (incidental?) light on the right side, with the main light source striking the sphere just left and slightly above center. It's cold & snowy here in Utah today. I've been mostly holed up, aside from a trip to WinCo for some groceries. I've had time to play with the paint and airbrush for many hours, although I must fit in a trip to the gym at some point so I don't feel like a total veg today. Thanks for the help!!!

With what you posted I would have to say yes to the top left being your best try but it still can use some shading on the bottom right area of the ball,also your light source is straight in front of the ball,try putting the light source in the upper left side of the ball (moving the lightest part up and slightly left) so it will look right with the darkest part in the lower right. Hope this helps you out if you don't understand what I'm saying let me know and I'll try and post up some pictures!

Thanks Basepaint, looking at it again I can I totally see where I erroneously shaded right on the border of the reflected light off the Front. I’m going to try and give it some more tries this evening before bed. Thanks!

Here's another attempt. Once again, it's the upper left sphere that looks most right to my eyes.

dmshanks said:

Here's another attempt. Once again, it's the upper left sphere that looks most right to my eyes.

View attachment 53190

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The upper four look ok really, it's just that the light isn't coming from the same direction or the same intensity on all four of them!

Are you just doing them out of your head or are you using a reference? If it is out of your head then only you will know how it should look. Highlights and shadows are determined by many factors. Work from a reference first.

Yea, from my head, but the idea is to shade in order to get the circle to look like a sphere, regardless of the color, tones, light "source" etc. I get your point though of working from a reference to start duplicating what I see, on the paper, matching every element of the reference. This is where one can start learning textures, color mixing, shading, brush control, all the things that are required to become a competent artist. Thanks for the feedback!!!

dmshanks said:

Yea, from my head, but the idea is to shade in order to get the circle to look like a sphere, regardless of the color, tones, light "source" etc. I get your point though of working from a reference to start duplicating what I see, on the paper, matching every element of the reference. This is where one can start learning textures, color mixing, shading, brush control, all the things that are required to become a competent artist. Thanks for the feedback!!!

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Your on the right track dave,Remember paint what you see not what you think is there!