Artists create volume by showing the effects of light on objects. To study these effects, we place an object next to a light source. It can be a natural light source (the Sun) or an artificial light source (candles, fire, light bulbs, etc.). We can see the effects of the light on the object: the illuminated area, the shaded area and the shadow of the object.
• The illuminated area of the object is usually the part that stands out the most. It is shown using light colours and touches of white.
• The shaded area of the object is the area that the light does not reach. We show this using dark colours. On spherical or cylindrical objects, the effect changes gradually from light to shade.
• The shadow falls in the areas around the object where light does not reach. Sometimes, the shadow of an object falls on another object.
Different types of lighting
Both light and the shadows it creates when it strikes objects are important expressive elements. They
can transform a scene.
The strong light of a sunny day creates a different feeling from the soft light of a cloudy day.
The direction of the light is the position of the light source in relation to the object. It can show drama, honesty, intrigue, mystery, etc.
Chiaroscuro technique
The chiaroscuro technique is used to show the illuminated and shaded areas on objects.
Artists use different methods:
• Lines: drawing soft lines on top of each other with graphite or coloured pencils to show the areas of light and shade.
• Smudges: extending the lines drawn with very soft pencils or charcoal using a finger or cotton wool.
• Highlights: adding touches of chalk or white pencil to a coloured background.
