Highlights & Shading - Using a Light Source Template

I love this image... I used the light study guide from Marianne Walker's book to help with the placement of highlights and shadows on this image. I am teaching highlights and shadows in many Southern California stores.. check my calendar or email me for the class closest to you.

The finished project shown first is just repeating the same steps as described below for each part of the image IE: hair, jeans, shirt, dog etc...

In the first small photo, you can see the light source guide placed on top of the image. I used a light piece of removable adhesive so that I would not have to figure out the placement each time I lifted the template.

Before starting to color any image, I suggest that you study the photo to determine where you are wanting your light source to come from. Take into consideration the face or main focus of the image... normally you would want to have your highlight on the most important portion of the image. In this case, I wanted the light source to come from my upper left. If I had the light coming from behind the boy, they face of both the boy and dog would have been shaded rather than highlighted.

1. lay light source guide over image with the lines running the direction of your light source. Use a bit of removable adhesive so that the template will not shift placement when you lift to color on your image. I make sort of a hinge with the adhesive so that I can repeat lifting the template and replace it repeatedly.

2. I mark my template with a yellow marker everywhere I believe the light is going to hit first. That is where the color is going to be the lightest or have the most white. Then I used blues to determine where I am going to place my shading and shadows. Obviously the shading is going to be darkest where the light hits last or indirectly. IE: the back side of his jeans. The Cast shadow is also shown in gray. Note the cast shadow is the area where there is grayness cast onto another subject (ground) due to the image blocking the light.

3. I then color each portion of the image individually. I start with the lightest color first and try to work on a damp surface. I add my mid tone, and then add my shading color. Using less of each color as I go darker. I then blend out my colors using the lighter color. IE: b91, B93, B95 I would use B91 to blend where the B91 & B93 join, yet I would use the B93 to blend where the B93 and B95 join together.

Using a light study guide helps me keep my highlights and shading consistent rather than randomly all over the place.... LOL which I often do when I am not using a guide. I have to make myself use a guide, because using one seems like such a bother to use... LOL.. but the outcome is so worth the few minutes it takes to get started.

Image: Penny Black (love it)

Colors used:

Hair & Fur: YR31, E30, E35, E37

Denim: B91, B93, B95 B000, Blender

Shirt: YR31, Y35, Y38 and a bit of YR68

Face: E000, E11, E04

Grass: YG21, YG23, YG25, and a bit of YG63 using my dots & doodles technique.

Baseball: N1, N3, N5

Bandana, R21, R22, R27, R59

Shoes: N1, N3, N5 & a bit of N7

Sky: B000 (colored not airbrushed)

Have fun!

Colorful Hugs to Everyone!