The Art & Science of Figure Drawing: SHADING

Use your basic drawing skills to shade the figure and illustrate anatomy using dramatic light & shadow.

Created byBrent Eviston

Last updated 6/2024

English

What you'll learn

How to use basic shading skills to shade the human body.
How to identify and draw fundamental light & shadow patterns on the figure.
How to create beautiful, fully rendered drawings of the figure using dramatic light & shadow.
How to analyze and draw any anatomical detail.

Course content

2 sections • 20 lectures • 4h 23m total length

Orientation19:01
Learn optical shading to render the figure with depth and realism by observing light and shadow on three-dimensional volumes—from gesture and structure to core shadows, midtones, and highlights—for advanced artists.
Preparing to Shade19:58
Identify when a figure drawing is ready to shade by prioritizing gesture, believable proportions, and visible landmarks. Learn to apply volume, overlaps, and subtle ellipses to establish depth before shading.
Dividing Light from Shadow18:15
Divide light from shadow by establishing the line of termination and a light wash, focusing on big-picture patterns of the torso and limbs under a single light source.
The Core Shadow19:44
Learn to draw the core shadow with a clear line of termination and reflected light, applying volume-based shading to complex egg-shaped and cylindrical forms.
Cast Shadows19:27
Learn to draw cast shadows by analyzing light direction, shadow shape, and surface topography. See how hard edges, penumbra, and occlusion ground the figure on a surface.
Midtones19:56
Learn to define midtones on the lit side of the line of termination, distinguishing center light, highlights, shadows, and reflected light, and translate volume into clear, organized tonal values.
Highlights & Refinements19:31
Learn to draw highlights and refine contours for a finished figure drawing, using white pencil on colored or white paper, balancing center lights, core shadows, and line of termination.

Trailer1:57
Master the full figure drawing process from dynamic gesture to descriptive contours and dramatic light, shadow, and shading, with step-by-step narration, subtle details, and a pose photo to draw along.
Introduction5:14
Discover a full-length figure drawing demonstration with stroke-by-stroke process and expressive line quality. Build on fundamentals while learning finishing ideas using tools from the art and science of drawing series.
Gesture10:16
Build a dynamic gesture drawing from a light primary action line head to foot, then refine the torso and limbs with simple lines using angle sighting for placement and revision.
Measuring15:39
Use angle sighting and proportional measuring to build a dynamic gesture drawing, anchoring points to the suprasternal notch, knees, and elbows, then refine with center line and joint triangulation.
Adding Width5:59
Add width and volume to gesture drawings by starting with light, guiding lines, refining limbs and neck with volume, and then layer descriptive contours to restore energy and accuracy.
Descriptive Contours9:22
Use descriptive line quality to convey hardness on bone beneath the surface with contour emphasis. Balance softer, thicker lines for softness and darker near lines to show space and depth.
Dividing Light From Shadow5:05
Learn to divide light from shadow by defining the line of termination and mapping broad shadow shapes with gestural, light strokes to build value and depth.
Developing the Drawing as a Whole8:12
Move around the whole drawing to develop form, focusing on the head, neck, hair, and limbs, add value and core shadow, and practice selective contour and light through observation.
Core Shadows & Cast Shadows12:28
Explore core shadows and cast shadows in figure drawing, mastering the line of termination, reflected light, and layered shading to build proportionate, believable form with careful contour and value control.
Drawing in the Light19:55
Shift attention to the lit side of the line of termination and lay in midtones. Describe the torso and rib cage while preserving gesture and light and shadow patterns.
Subtle Details16:27
Apply shading, value, and air around the figure to create liveliness beyond a white background, emphasizing gesture, contour, and subtle highlights with erasers to deepen depth.
Finishing Touches12:02
Refine a figure by detailing the hand and head, applying subtle value, shadow, and texture. Learn to pause, revisit, and finish with fresh eyes.
Conclusion4:54
Organize pigment on a flat surface to create the illusion of a living figure, leaving unfinished areas to invite viewer participation. Develop a dynamic shading process from gesture to render.

Requirements

You should have a solid foundation in basic drawing and shading skills.
It is highly recommended that you complete Brent’s Gesture course as well as his Volume & Structure course before taking this course.

Description

Shading is the most sought after figure drawing skill. If you can shade basic volumes like spheres and cylinders, this course will teach you how to use those same skills to shade the human body. You’ll be led step by step through the figure shading process from simple light and shadow patterns to highly rendered anatomical details.

In addition to Brent’s award winning instruction* this course includes a set of 100 photographs of beautifully lit, fully nude figure models. These photographs were created specifically for this course and will provide hours of shading practice. This course also includes high resolution images of Brent’s original drawings for you to study.

Each lesson in this course focuses on a specific step of the shading process. At the end of each lesson you’ll be given a specific exercise. By the end of the course you’ll have your own fully shaded and rendered figure drawing.

Because this course features photographs of fully nude models, it is important that you conduct yourself maturely and appropriately in the course.

This is a challenging, intermediate level figure drawing course. It is highly recommended that you complete Brent’s Gesture course as well as his Volume & Structure course before taking this course.

*Brent was honored as one of Udemy’s Best New Instructors of 2017.

Who this course is for:

Students who want to improve their figure drawing and shading.
Aspiring creative professionals from character designers to fashion designers
Aspiring artists of all kinds.

The Art & Science of Figure Drawing: SHADING

What you'll learn

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Course content

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Requirements

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