2 Beautiful Types of Shadows in Drawing
2 Beautiful Types of Shadows in Drawing
There are two main types of shadows that you’ll encounter in drawing: cast shadows and form shadows (also sometimes called core shadows or crevasse shadows).
- Cast shadows are the shadows that an object creates on another surface when light is blocked by the object. They are typically the easiest shadows to identify because they appear detached from the object itself. The length and direction of the cast shadow will depend on the position of the light source and the object. For instance, a taller light source will cast a shorter shadow, while a light source directly overhead will cast a shadow directly beneath the object.
- Form shadows (or core shadows) are the shadows that appear on the surface of the object itself, where the form turns away from the light source. These shadows help to define the three-dimensionality of the form. Form shadows are usually darker and more intense than the rest of the shaded area on the object, and they tend to have a softer edge than cast shadows.
Understanding how to use cast shadows and form shadows effectively is essential for creating realistic and believable drawings. By carefully observing how light interacts with your subject, you can learn to depict these shadows in a way that gives your drawings depth and dimension.