Shaping the light

We represent light with gradations of tone, guided by observation and knowledge of the way it interacts with form. It’s very easy to miss the quality of the light if you’re just copying values. Instead you need to shape the light.

This means molding the amount of light for each form, building up more light in one place and tapering it off in another. It means making value configurations within the linear structure of the drawing by allocating differing intensities of light according to the topography of form

Another important skill to work on is that of shaping your tonal progressions. In a truly naturalistic drawing style, each patch of tone has a specific shape. Tapering, curving, slanted, and asymmetrical shapes are the rule.

Whenever I draw on the inside I try and remember and obey the following rule: Each form to be shaded must first be recognised as such and its shape in space understood. The light progression that cuts across the form just also be seen and carefully studied. Then a corresponding tonal progression is made in the drawing to represent that specific form as it’s conveyed by that light progression.

- Anthony Ryder (The artist’s guide to figure drawing)