112 Anatomy advice

Learn to control your values.

Vthree distinct values shapes: shadow (darks), half-tone (mid-tone) and light. These value shapes are what I’ll use as a guide during the rendering process. Next, I can begin to draw the shapes I see. During the early stage, I’ll ignore the subtleties and variations with the shadow and half-tone, instead filling them with a single, uniform tone. As the drawing develops, I can then add subtle variations to help me render and model form.

To complete the rendering, I want to enhance the illusion of fall-off, when alue control is what gives drawings and renderings that beautiful feeling of light and shadow. To control values, I must first train my eye to accurately see values. I also want to be clear about where the light source is, and identify the darkest and brightest areas of the scene.

To better see the values, I’ll squint at the model or subject. This will simplify the values I see, and big masses or shapes of values will start to appear. I identify

Observing value shapes

To control values I must first observe value shapes accurately. Squinting helps me to see the simplified value shapes and patterns. Next, I’ll group the values that are close together into big masses of dark, midtone and light. It’s these value shapes that I’ll use to render the drawing. values away from the light are darker and values closer to the light become brighter. I’ll use a subtle wash of charcoal and a brush to add a smooth gradation of tone that becomes darker as the forms move away from the light source. Finally, I’ll use white charcoal on the brightest areas to create highlights. If fall-off is done is well, it makes the rendering feel believable.