Lesson 5: Transparency, Reflections, Shadows and the Art Of Illusion.

Capturing Shadows.

The easiest way to learn to draw shadows is to continually observe and record the way shadows fall. I suggest that you use the same learning techniques outlined for other elements of design.

1. Cut out and keep magazine photos of objects in strong directional light.
Take photos of lighting effects at every opportunity. Draw every interesting lighting effect you see. (Make the drawings one minute max)
2. Always be aware of what you are seeing around you. Be on the scout.
3. Set your self up a little experiment by placing objects into lighting situations.
4. Record the shadows that fall from objects at different times of the day.

5. If you come up with ideas, experiments and other ways of learning about light please share them with us in the discussion area.
6. Do record you work, sign and date it. It will help you so much later on.

I have found over a long period of teaching that students don't really understand that shadows have set mathematical properties. Because of this they can be learnt like any other language.

"Shadows have vanishing points. They are constructed using guidelines. They are similar to normal perspective but they do not correspond directly to the vanishing points or horizon line. Shadows have their own vanishing points which are called light vanishing points or shadow vanishing points." Art Studio Chalkboard.

I suggest that drawing up perspective guidelines and then drawing up shadow guidelines every time you want to do a drawing would be confusing and discouraging. (Unless you have a complex and mathematical mind.) My suggestion is that you do what has been suggested through out the course.

1. Make up your mind what aspect of drawing you are experimenting with and focus on just that.
2. Do spend some time focusing on just shadows and for those few short exercise draw up shadow guidelines and see the exercises through.
3. Soon drawing shadows will come naturally to you.

Learn How to Plot Shadows This is a fairly complex method of drawing shadows onto two point perspective guidelines. I don't suggest that everyone will want to study shadows in such a complex manner - but it is good to see how shadows come about and you may want to experiment for a while until you consolidate the knowledge. Light source complicates the way we draw shadows as well. I suggest that you look at these exercises but don't get too caught up in them.

Atmospheric Perspective.

"Aerial or atmospheric interference with visual perception causes loss of contrast, detail and sharp focus. The effect, which Leonardo called "the perspective of disappearance," tends to make objects seem to take on a blue-grey middle value as they increase in distance. ....

1. Look at each point singularly.
2. Read it.
3. Absorb it.
4. But don't get caught up in having to get it all right just for now.
5. One thing at a time is a good motto.

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