How to Draw Shadows to Create Depth!

The reason for drawing shadows is that the ground in which the object resides on is usually already illuminated. This is due to the fact that the light source, wherever you put it, will cover a larger area as the default behavior.

In that sense, you begin with a light plane, unlike the objects, which begins with a dark shape!

1. Three things to know

Reflected shadows off an object are really based on perspective. If you don’t know perspective, then there’s no way you will learn how shadows behave when it’s being reflected off an object.

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.

Anyway, the first thing you need to consider is the position of the main light source. 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 in regards to the perspective point that the object is in.

2. Let’s do some examples!

Instead of worrying about how to draw shadows, the best thing to do is to 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. Draw shadows with the light in front

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.

Just remember that you only have one vanishing point for the light source in this example. It’s very rare that you will have more than one point unless you have multiple light sources.

4. Moving forward

Flip the picture around, vertically or horizontally, so you get other four dimensions of the light sources we have talked about!

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.

Moreover, the entire plane is lighted up. That’s why you don’t begin with the shadows when it’s being reflected off an object.

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.

Regardless, keep up the motivation to learn as there’s more heading your way!

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