Shading and main focal point

[Wayneb]

Hello all,
As somewhat of a beginner I have a question that I have been thinking about and I am a little fogged as to how to ask it.
When shading a bust or figure;..Should it be shaded from the main focal point? If so,how should the sides or back be shaded? Assuming the light source is from above,as you rotate the figure it becomes a different focal point.I don't know,Maybe I'm confusing myself but I'm sure someone out there knows what I'm talking about and can shed some "Light" on the subject...............Thanks,
Wayne

 

[megroot]

Wayne,
What the most painters do is the zenithal ligtning. W.a.w. From above. There is only one point at the earth where it is possible and that is on the equator.
But that's how we do it. If you paint with light that comes for instance from 45 degrees on right then you have made it yourself difficult. The shades are falling different, and the highlights are different.
So, make it easy on yourself and use the zenithal lightning.
That makes: folds highlight on the top, shading into the folds.
Figure catch more light on the top and therefore it should be painted darker as you come lower to the figure.
Some people setting this extremly, and painting the face like a coalminer..(my opinion).

If you play safe: take your figure and digital camera, and shoot some pictures in black and white. Use some different points of your light and everything is coming clear....( i hope)

Marc

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Wayne
What Marc says is right ,take an angle poise lamp or similar and drop down close from above and you will see the shadows , he is also right you dont want him looking like a coal miner " loved that one Marc" this hobby lacks a bit of humor at times

Ronnie

 

[Einion]

Before strict zenithal lighting became more common the general way figures were painted was from a generalised topside lightsource, so much like light from an overcast sky where it's coming from 10 and 2 as much as 12. When you paint the zenithal way the imaginary lightsoure is much more directly from above - either from 12 noon only or a little softer, from 11 through to 1.

Which one you use is matter of taste/style but saying that, the older method is slightly more naturalistic while the newer one tends to give a more dramatic effect, which is currently quite in vogue.

A figure painted either way should look right as your viewpoint rotates around the figure, if the shading is done properly.

Einion

 

[Wayneb]

Thanks very much for the intelligent and very understandable answers.Not to be critical,but I always wondered why some pieces seem to be overshadowed while the more subtle shading seemed more natural and pleasing to the eye.Now I just have to learn how to apply it to my own work...................Thanks again..........Wayne

 

[Einion]

Not to be critical,but I always wondered why some pieces seem to be overshadowed while the more subtle shading seemed more natural and pleasing to the eye.

Personally I think quite a bit of recent work (from the Continent in particular) is 'overpainted', with exaggerated shadows being the major complaint - a crease on the top surface of a sleeve for example looking like it's nearly black, when obviously a lot of light would naturally fall on all of the upper areas.

Some stuff is actually like that in the flesh, but the photography and/or post-processing in Photoshop can be guilty of exaggerating the real appearance to one degree or another.

Einion

 

[brian]

I agree with you Einion.Realism seems to be out of style.
Brian

 

[megroot]

I agree with you Einion.Realism seems to be out of style.
Brian

Agree totally 100 %
Gonna see it again at Euro... above the cheekbone almost white, beneath the cheekbone almost black.
A dead coalminers look....
But, i think the jury love it.

Marc

 

[Wayneb]

Thanks guys,.......I appreciate the input and also....I like your thinking.

Wayne