To Shade or Not to Shade
Tangle Patterns has given us another string to work with. This week's string comes from Jill Dobis. Last week's string and this week's are different in that they have several round shapes and aren't just a swooping string slashed across the tile a couple times. This one makes you think.
I thought I'd talk about shading today. I'm still learning about shading, so don't think I am an expert at it, but I am starting to understand it a little better. Above is the tile I drew following Jill's string. Pretty much just as it was rendered. AND I didn't really clean this tile up in photoshop like I usually do. So it looks a little rougher than normal. Absolutely no shading. I think it looks alright as it is and sometimes I leave my tiles with no shading, but look what a difference shading can make.
Same tile with shading. And I just thought of an idea - hold on for a minute while I jump over to photoshop . . .
. . . I don't know if this helps or not. Can you tell the difference in the two tile when they are side by side? I hope so. Cleaned up and shaded - tile # two is my favorite! I tried to shade anywhere a section tucks underneath another section, along seamlines, and to the right-hand side as if the light was shining on the tile from the left-upper area. Hope that makes sense. If it doesn't - send me a comment and I'll try to explain it better :).
This was part of Tangle Patterns' string 016 challenge. You can check it out here, and tangle up a string of your own!
I'm new to tangling and have never tried shading before. After seeing what you have done I will have to try it for sure! I think it added a lot!! More than I ever would have expected. Nice! :)
ReplyDeleteshading is still hard for me to remember to do but it definitely adds a lot to your finished picture. have fun and play around with it. i use a pencil, then smudge it either with my finger, or with a stump/tortillon/paper pencil - you can get them at walmart for dirt-cheap. it's seriously tightly rolled up paper and you use it to blend. sometimes if i'm really lazy, i use a grey marker - but you can't erase it if you make a mistake.
DeleteHey Alice! Love what you're doing with your zentangles and your blog! You're an inspiration!
ReplyDeletethank you so much! i am learning every day - and having a ball!
Deletenice work! This is very pretty, and I like how you transformed that string. I am learning about shading too. I am finding that it makes a big difference, and can add a little bit of extra *something* to the tile. Suddenly, the tangles have character and dimension. I do especially like your Floorz (it is floorz, right?), because it almost has a flowery feel to it. Really great to see that pattern softened up a bit.
ReplyDeletethanks so much! shading is still something i'm learning and working on.
Deleteactually that pattern is called n'zeppel - although it is similar to floorz. the way it was taught to me is this - you draw a grid - straight or crooked, however you want it - then you imagine a hard-boiled egg and shove it into each of those little boxes, tightly. basically you just round the corners. it's fun - give it a try :)
Very helpful indeed - Shading is my real bugbear......I tense & tense until I'm pushing the stump so hard into the paper I'm leaving indentations! That made me stop & think a bit & horror of horrors my first attempt with that particular tile was so dark I took an eraser to it .....
ReplyDeletePaula (PEP)
paula - that was one thing i learned at training that i didn't already know (one of many) - use your fingertip. lay down your pencil shading, then smudge it with a fingertip. i still use a paper stump a lot, too, but the fingertip is more gentle on the paper. i've done the same thing you're talking about, but not anymore, and my pictures look better now than before.
Deleteto shade!
ReplyDeleteI 'm trying to learn to make shadows! see a big difference... get volume..
are not flat and boring ;)
soooooo
TO SHADE!
i like that, fifi! learning to make shadows - that's perfect!
DeleteThe shading adds such a fabulous touch to your tangle!
ReplyDeleteShading--beautiful! Gives it life. I haven't tried this string yet...It's in there!! Miss you on the Diva and Bright Owl!!
ReplyDelete