shading
Shading is the process of adding dark colors or pencil marks to a drawing. It helps to show light and shadow so that a flat picture looks like a real, 3D object.
Examples
3 of 5I am adding some shading to my drawing of a tree.
I am adding some shading to my drawing of a tree.
The artist used soft shading to create a realistic face.
The artist used soft shading to create a realistic face.
Look at the cool shading on this cartoon character!
Look at the cool shading on this cartoon character!
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a window shade. A shade blocks the light. In art, shading is where you block the light to make things look dark.
Quick Quiz
The ball looks like a real circle because the artist added ____.
Correct!
The correct answer is: shading
Examples
I am adding some shading to my drawing of a tree.
everydayI am adding some shading to my drawing of a tree.
The artist used soft shading to create a realistic face.
formalThe artist used soft shading to create a realistic face.
Look at the cool shading on this cartoon character!
informalLook at the cool shading on this cartoon character!
Students must learn shading to understand how light works in art.
academicStudents must learn shading to understand how light works in art.
The client wants more shading on the product illustration.
businessThe client wants more shading on the product illustration.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
subtle shading
subtle shading
cross-hatch shading
cross-hatch shading
heavy shading
heavy shading
Often Confused With
A shadow is the dark area on the ground or wall; shading is the dark marks put on the object itself in a drawing.
Usage Notes
Use this word when talking about how to make a drawing look round or solid. It is most commonly used with art tools like pencils, charcoal, or digital brushes.
Common Mistakes
Don't say 'I'm making a shadow' if you mean you are coloring the dark parts of a person's face in a sketch; use 'shading' instead.
Memory Tip
Think of a window shade. A shade blocks the light. In art, shading is where you block the light to make things look dark.
Word Origin
From the Old English word 'sceadung', which means the act of casting a shadow or protecting from light.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Shading techniques like 'chiaroscuro' became very famous during the Renaissance to make paintings look like photographs.
Quick Quiz
The ball looks like a real circle because the artist added ____.
Correct!
The correct answer is: shading
Related Vocabulary
More art words
painting
A1A painting is a picture that someone makes using paint. It is usually created on a surface like paper or canvas and is considered a piece of art.
sculpture
A1A sculpture is a three-dimensional piece of art made by shaping or carving materials like stone, wood, metal, or clay. Unlike a painting, you can walk around a sculpture and see it from many different angles.
sketch
A1A simple drawing that is done quickly and without many details. It is often used as a rough draft or a plan for a more finished piece of art.
portrait
A1A portrait is a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, usually focusing on the face and shoulders. It is created to show what the person looks like and often to express their personality.
landscape
A1A landscape is a painting, photograph, or view of a wide area of land. In art, it usually shows natural scenes like mountains, trees, and rivers instead of people.
still life
A1A still life is a type of art, such as a painting or photograph, that shows objects that do not move. Common subjects include everyday items like fruit, flowers, bottles, or bowls.
cubism
A1Cubism is a style of modern art that shows objects and people as simple geometric shapes like cubes, triangles, and circles. Instead of looking realistic from one side, the art shows the subject from many different angles at the same time.
surrealism
A1Surrealism is a style of art and literature that mixes real objects in strange or impossible ways, like in a dream. It aims to show the power of the imagination and the hidden thoughts of the mind.
contemporary art
A1Contemporary art is art produced at the present period in time. It includes works made by artists living today and reflects the issues of our modern world.
easel
A1An easel is a wooden or metal frame that stands on three legs. It is used to hold a canvas or a board while an artist is painting or drawing on it.
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