FREE Level I- Art Lesson 1C: Shading Rounded Objects

Learn principles, tools, and skills needed for pencil shading on rounded objects

The lesson is suitable for grades 4 through adult.

Art Lesson Description

This FREE lesson teaches students to use drawing pencils to shade rounded objects in order to make them look three-dimensional.

• The lesson teaches students the word chiaroscuro,
• Asks students to study the chiaroscuro used in a drawing by Rembrandt, and
• Begins with a warm-up that helps students discover the differences between three drawing pencils: HB, 3B, and 5B.

The lesson introduces these and other principles of pencil shading:

• Beginning with a mid-tone, and then adding highlight and shadow,
• Establishing the direction of the light source,
• Using gradual shifts in tone to suggest roundness,
• Using shading to ground an object.

The skills learned in this lesson can be used to more successfully complete the following ArtAchieve Lessons:

• Art Lesson III-4: The African Face
• Art Lesson IV-7: The Monastery in L’viv: Shading Angular Objects

This lesson includes both VIDEO and POWERPOINT versions of the lesson.

List of Supplies for Each Student:

• Sheet of 11" x 14" drawing paper—CUT IN HALF (11" x 7")
• 3 drawing pencils—HB, 3B, and 5B (light, medium, & dark)
• Kneaded eraser
• Blending stick
• Graphite bar
• NOTE: No printed warm-up is needed for this lesson

Approximate Time to Complete the Lesson:

• Warm-up: 10 minutes
• Drawing and shading the box: 35 minutes
• Total time: 45 minutes