DRAWING AND SHADING PYRAMIDS : How to Draw & Shade The Light and Shadows on Pyramids

Learn How to Draw Pyramids

A square pyramid is represented above with other objects, but will serve to illustrate the remarks upon solids of this type.

The light and the shadow.

If the apex is directed toward the light, all the lateral faces will be light and the base shadow; if the apex is directed from the light, all the lateral faces will be shadow and the base will be light. Generally some of the faces are in light and others in shadow, and there is gradation and variation in all.

The lightest face.

The lightest face is that which reflects the light most directly toward the eye, and it is lightest nearest the eye where it contrasts with the adjoining face.

The darkest face.

The darkest face is the one which sends the least light to the eye ; it appears darkest along the lateral edge which is nearest the eye, and which separates it from the adjoining lighter face.

Gradation due to perspective and to contrast.

These effects are due to the fact that a dark surface appears lighter as it recedes, and a light surface appears darker, and also to the fact that contrasts of light and dark, or of any two different tones, increase their difference where they juxtapose by causing the dark to appear darker and the light to appear lighter.

Slight differences in value to be represented.

In Fig. 14 the base and the light lateral face appear to have the same value. In nature the base was slightly darker than the face ; this difference should be expressed in any light and shade drawing after the effect of the masses which the illustration gives has been represented.