The Visual Definition of Shadow in Art!

How does the visual definition of shadow look like in a drawing? Well, we are going to use a lot of perspective angles and line concepts to create several shadow drawings to help you answer that question!

First of all, the reason for a shadow to exist is that there is an absence of light on an object. Just think about any real life object that you see in everyday life!

For instance, if you look around outside, the ground in which the object resides on is usually already illuminated by a central light source (the sun) and a shadow is basically what the light fails to penetrate (cast shadows on a tree)!

To start off, we will review a few things that are important to understand how shading works.

1. Visual definition of shadow: concepts

Reflecting shadows off an object is really based on perspective. Luckily, we did deal with a lot of perspective learning in the previous articles! If necessary, go back to those lessons if you're still having some difficulties.

There three main key terms that we need to familiarize ourselves with before we can start drawing shadows correctly. The first definition is the word light source. This is just where your main central light is located at.

In most paintings, there is a combination of six areas that most artists use: behind the object, in front of the object, above the object, below the object, to the left of the object, and to the right of the object.

Next, you need to consider the angle of the light, which of course, is based upon where you placed the light source. After that, you will need to apply these angles to the shadows in regards to the perspective vanishing point that the cast shadows will create.

With these three definitions in place, let's go over this is more detail!

2. Visual definition of shadow: behind

I think the best way to understand the definition of shadow in art is to actually draw it out! First, create a perspective plane. So start up your digital art program and let's starts with doing two point perspectives once more!

From the two point perspective, draw a cube that's in perspective. Once that is done, decide on the direction of the light source and make sure it's not aligned to any other perspective points. For simplicity's sake, let's make the light source on the very top left.

The next part requires a bit of imagination. Where do you think the light source will hit and not hit the object? Draw the perspective lines coming from the center of the light source and align it to the cube. Use the corner of the cube to be your guide!

From there, you will align it up with another perspective point. But instead of the perspective focused on the object, it will be to create the proper reflected shadow.

Make sure the vanishing points of the light source and the shadow guide lines are aligned to the same vertical measuring line!

Once the shadow in encased with perspective guides, just fill it in.

As you can see, the shadows are independent on the perspective on the object as it has its own perspective guide lines. Of course, this is only one possibility. The next possibility deals with the light source that is in front of the object.

3. Visual definition of shadow: front

This is where it gets interesting. Remember the lesson on the false perspective horizon? Well, you're going to put it to good use here!

Basically, instead of placing the light source on top of the object, you will place it below the object. As such, this will also become your angle and perspective guide on how to draw shadows when in front of an object.

Like always, draw your perspective guide lines for the shadow.

Now, I need you to draw a second perspective point. This will be the vanishing point of the shadow. As you can probably guess, line up the intersecting points between the light source and the shadow's perspective point.

As you can see, the shadows follow its distinct vertical measuring scale that's different from the main one point perspective point.

As you draw shadows, try to deviate around the light source. As you can figure, the closer the light source is towards the horizon, the longer the shadow will be reflected from the object.

4. Visual definition of shadow: artificial light

Getting into more advanced type of lighting, when you have an artificial light like a lamp, you will have to alter the angle of light to be underneath the specified light source!

At the same time, it's not that much difficult, either! All the same concepts are there as you are still using the same amount of perspective lines to find the correct position of the shadows!

See if you can create a diagram of a few shapes (in a circular circumference) with the proper shadows using a central light source right above it!

As usual, use all the perspective lines that you can find and link it to the cube to create the the necessary shadow drawings!

For other shapes besides a square, just use what you learned about grids and measuring. For instance, if you are drawing a spherical object, cut the sphere in half, and then reflect the measuring square onto the plane.

Furthermore, you can contain complex shapes into a measuring square and then draw the reflected shadows that way. Also, shadows change with the plane. If there is a dip in the ground, make sure the reflected shadows follow the dip!

It all boils down to practice. The more you draw shadows, the easier you can see how the object will behave given a certain light source, the angle it creates, and the cast shadow created from the vanishing points.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson of understanding the definition of shadow and how it is shown in drawings. Keep up the motivation to learn as there's more heading your way!

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