Uploaded February 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Dramatic effects can be achieved by working on toned or black paper. Highlights will seem to pop right off the page. Pencil colors tend to appear more brilliant.
1. Study the effects of white and colored pencil on black paper. 2. Understand and apply lighting and shading techniques to round objects such as reflected light and highlights. 3. Effectively communicate separations of parts of an object, i.e. parting lines.
Cylinder
1. Draw on black 8-1/2x11 bond paper with white or light colored Verithin or Color-erase and Prisma pencil. 2. Lightly sketch a vertical cylinder and mark its center line. 3. Determine a light source and the direction of lighting. 4. Lightly mark the location for the highlight, between the center line and outer parallel edge of the cylinder, closest to the light source. 5. Note the area for the core shadow between the center line and the other outer edge of the cylinder. 6. Add a gradient in the highlight area with the brightest area midpoint between the centerline and outer edge. 7. Use arm strokes that follow the direction of the center line. 8. Add a faint gradient along the opposite outer edge as a reflected light. Again, use arm strokes that follow the direction of the center line. 9. Add a faint gradient on the top exposed area of the cylinder to accent the far edge. 10. Define the edges with line work. 11. Accurately sketch an elliptical part line across the center line as if it were a section line. Darken it with a thin black line in Prisma pencil or pen. 12. Add a thin highlight line along the part line with a brighter accent in the highlighted area of the cylinder.
Sphere
1. Draw on black 8-1/2x11 bond paper with white or light colored Verithin or Color-erase and Prisma pencil. 2. Lightly sketch a circle to represent the outer edge of a sphere. 3. Determine a light source and the direction of lighting. 4. Lightly mark the location for the highlight, between the center and outer edge of the sphere, closest to the light source. 5. Note the area for the core shadow between the center and the outer edge opposite from the light source. 6. Add a circular gradient in the highlight area with the brightest area midpoint between the center and outer edge. 7. Use arm motions that follow the circular shape of the highlight. 8. Add a faint gradient along the opposite outer edge as a reflected light. Use arm strokes that follow the direction of the outer edge. 9. Define the edges with line work. 10. Accurately sketch an elliptical part line as if it were an equator. Darken it with a thin black line in Prisma pencil or pen. 11. Add a thin highlight line along the part line with a brighter accent in the highlighted area of the sphere. Based in part on work by Prof. Robert Natata, San Francisco State University.
Dramatic effects can be achieved by working on toned or black paper. Highlights will seem to pop right off the page. Pencil colors tend to appear more brilliant.
1. Study the effects of white and colored pencil on black paper. 2. Understand and apply lighting and shading techniques to round objects such as reflected light and highlights. 3. Effectively communicate separations of parts of an object, i.e. parting lines.
Cylinder
1. Draw on black 8-1/2x11 bond paper with white or light colored Verithin or Color-erase and Prisma pencil. 2. Lightly sketch a vertical cylinder and mark its center line. 3. Determine a light source and the direction of lighting. 4. Lightly mark the location for the highlight, between the center line and outer parallel edge of the cylinder, closest to the light source. 5. Note the area for the core shadow between the center line and the other outer edge of the cylinder. 6. Add a gradient in the highlight area with the brightest area midpoint between the centerline and outer edge. 7. Use arm strokes that follow the direction of the center line. 8. Add a faint gradient along the opposite outer edge as a reflected light. Again, use arm strokes that follow the direction of the center line. 9. Add a faint gradient on the top exposed area of the cylinder to accent the far edge. 10. Define the edges with line work. 11. Accurately sketch an elliptical part line across the center line as if it were a section line. Darken it with a thin black line in Prisma pencil or pen. 12. Add a thin highlight line along the part line with a brighter accent in the highlighted area of the cylinder.
Sphere
1. Draw on black 8-1/2x11 bond paper with white or light colored Verithin or Color-erase and Prisma pencil. 2. Lightly sketch a circle to represent the outer edge of a sphere. 3. Determine a light source and the direction of lighting. 4. Lightly mark the location for the highlight, between the center and outer edge of the sphere, closest to the light source. 5. Note the area for the core shadow between the center and the outer edge opposite from the light source. 6. Add a circular gradient in the highlight area with the brightest area midpoint between the center and outer edge. 7. Use arm motions that follow the circular shape of the highlight. 8. Add a faint gradient along the opposite outer edge as a reflected light. Use arm strokes that follow the direction of the outer edge. 9. Define the edges with line work. 10. Accurately sketch an elliptical part line as if it were an equator. Darken it with a thin black line in Prisma pencil or pen. 11. Add a thin highlight line along the part line with a brighter accent in the highlighted area of the sphere. Based in part on work by Prof. Robert Natata, San Francisco State University.
