6 Shading Techniques ◉

Medium | Best for: Portraits, realism, smooth surfaces (metal, glass, skin)

To truly learn these 6 shading techniques, you must practice them side-by-side. Draw 6 circles on a piece of paper. Label them 1 through 6. 6 shading techniques

While the principles of light logic (highlight, core shadow, reflected light) dictate where to shade, it is your chosen technique that dictates how the shading looks. There is no single "correct" way to shade; rather, there is a toolkit of methods, each offering a distinct texture, mood, and finish. Medium | Best for: Portraits, realism, smooth surfaces

If hatching gives you a light gray, cross hatching gives you deep black. This technique involves layering one set of parallel lines over another set at a perpendicular or diagonal angle. While the principles of light logic (highlight, core

Shading is what transforms a flat line drawing into a three-dimensional, lifelike form. By controlling value (lightness to darkness), you create depth, texture, and mood. Below are six fundamental shading techniques, ranging from basic to advanced.