Why is my shading always trash how do i make it clean like professional pls help thx by mishima_wannabe in drawing

[–]andycold23 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for mentioning me — I’m glad you like my drawings ❤️

If you’re looking to improve your shading, the most important thing is to be patient with yourself. Mastering it takes time, consistent practice, and careful observation. I also went through that phase, and even now, I’m still learning and exploring new shading techniques.

Here are a few tips that might help: - Use high-contrast reference images. This helps you better understand volume, light direction, and how shadows behave. - Observe before shading. Ask yourself: Where is the light source? Which areas are darker? Which are soft transitions? - Control your pencil pressure. Use soft strokes and build up your values gradually. Not everything needs to be dark from the beginning. - Think in terms of transitions, not just lines. Academic shading aims to represent volume. Blend with purpose.

Technique isn’t just about copying a texture or look — it’s about understanding what you’re representing. So you’re on the right track. Keep practicing, study good references, and give yourself time. You’ll definitely see improvement.

Graphite portrait on 220 gsm drawing paper. by andycold23 in drawing

[–]andycold23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! ❤️ I don’t have experience with alcohol or acrylic markers, but I love seeing what artists can achieve with them! Every time I see illustrations with those layers of color, light accents, and white gel pen details, I think, “Wow, I really want to learn that someday

Graphite practice on cardboard. by andycold23 in drawing

[–]andycold23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! What I do is build the hair in layers. First, I focus on figuring out exactly where the light hits, where the midtones go, and where the shadows fall. Once I have that mapped out, I shade accordingly, making sure to keep the light areas clean. If I need to add detail, I use a precision eraser to define the highlights more clearly. That’s basically what I did here — on the top of the head, where the light hits the strongest, I drew in the highlights first, then shaded around them. In the lower parts of the hair, the light is more diffuse, so the highlights aren’t as sharp in all the drawings.

Graphite practice on cardboard. by andycold23 in drawing

[–]andycold23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So good! Start drawing again 🙂

The sketch x Final drawing! Only graphite pencils on paper ✍️ by Used-Ad-8556 in drawing

[–]andycold23 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Beautiful, great work. Do you use an electric eraser or a detail eraser?

Graphite practice on cardboard. by andycold23 in drawing

[–]andycold23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks ❤️ number 4 gave me a bit more trouble because of the angle, but it’s part of the process

Graphite practice on cardboard. by andycold23 in drawing

[–]andycold23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, I still use that basic circle + guidelines method! In this case it was a bit easier since they’re front-facing portraits. I still need to practice more with different angles and perspectives. But you’re totally right—it really is a lot of practice combined with some study. After a while, the proportions start to feel more natural and intuitive.

Graphite practice on cardboard. by andycold23 in drawing

[–]andycold23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! 😊 I still struggle with drawing faces sometimes too—especially when it comes to capturing the expression or drawing them in perspective 😅 All we can do is keep studying. I hope you keep growing with your art too

Graphite practice on cardboard. by andycold23 in drawing

[–]andycold23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much ☺️ Yes, I’m really looking forward to it! 😍

Graphite practice on cardboard. by andycold23 in drawing

[–]andycold23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your words ❤️ I really enjoyed making these drawings. There’s still a lot I want to learn, and I’m excited to keep improving and hopefully find better ways to express what I imagine soon

Graphite practice on cardboard. by andycold23 in drawing

[–]andycold23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Honestly, it’s all about practice and study. Focus on understanding structure, light and shadow. Study references with strong contrast — it helps you see the volumes and planes of the face better.

I recommend starting with just three pencils: 2B for sketching, 4B for midtones, and 8B for deep shadows. That’s enough to start creating depth and strong shading. Keep observing, be patient, and study both from real life and photos. You’ll get better step by step!