How to Draw a Sphere | Easy Shadow Technique

How to Draw a Sphere | Easy Shadow Technique

1. Draw a circle
2. Draw the cast shadow with an ellipse
3. Draw hatching for the shadow
4. Draw 3d volumes with 2 ellipses only
5. Draw the core shadow
6. Light source from the left

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There are plenty of complex explanations of
“How to shade a sphere” on the Internet.

And they are overwhelming!

This following 6 steps shadow drawing tutorial is made easy:
I made it simple for Industrial design beginners to start gaining confidence in sketching with “How to draw a sphere with easy shadow”.

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I believe in learning to take baby steps
before jumping into “expert drawing techniques”
in Industrial Design Sketching.

This step-by-step drawing tutorial for beginners
shows you how to draw a 3D sphere super fast and easy
– without any complicated theory about light and shadow.

Get a ballpoint pen and let’s start drawing
with this SIMPLIFIED method for cast shadows on the sphere!

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1. Draw a circle

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2. Draw the cast shadow with an ellipse

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3. Draw hatching for the shadow

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4. Draw 3D volume with 2 ellipses

OPTIONAL TIP:
For clarity, draw two little crosses.
One in front, and one in the back of the sphere.
(The cross in front is a bit bigger and bolder than the one behind.
It makes the front cross closer to us.)

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5. Draw the Core shadow

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NOTE: Be aware of the Bounce light

• The bounce light creates the white/blank space below the core shadow.
• Imagine the light rebound on the white table, and reflecting below the sphere.

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TRY THIS: “Unfinished Shadow Tracing”

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6. Light source from top left

TIP: To help you better visualize,
spot the contact point below the sphere touching the ground.

• The (peanut) Core shadow is also on the right side of the sphere

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How to go from Beginner doodles to Professional drawings

When you start practicing, your doodles are clumsy.
That’s normal, it is because you are acquiring the knowledge.

That’s a good thing!

Know your brain limits, and you will learn happily.
The brain is not made to multi-task.
Focusing on learning both the theory + make nice drawings is tough.

So first, absorb the techniques making doodles.
Then when you feel ready, practice drawing with fluidity and with lighter lines. your sketch will become much more Lively!

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WHAT’S NEXT: Advanced Preview

I like to popularize a technique first.
Then make you ready to jump on more advanced tutorials to learn the actual proper technique.

I will create a step-by-step tutorial on How to draw cast shadows on the sphere.
For now, I wanna give you a preview of it as a “visualization insight”.

• When you draw the core shadow, imagine these 4 arrows projecting on the ground.
• You got here an ellipse on the right of the sphere.

And if you want to start with this technique now, you can follow the steps with How to draw cast shadow on boxes (parallel source light).

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The 2 source light

There are mainly 2 types of light source:

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Practice Practice Practice!

Like how my friend and Concept artist Edward Eyth says:
“PRACTICE, PRACTICE, AND PRACTICE”.

Enjoy learning the simple way and fun matters to be able to practice so much.
Learn to love the process and you will grow your design sketching skills with more complex and cool drawings. You will raise your confidence and soon reach a professional level.

It’s like learning to ride a bike with the 2 extra little wheels first.
So you can soon ride freely without them and learn how to ride on more challenging roads!

Remember, if you want to step up like crazy,
information is nothing without practice!

Practice drawing plenty of spheres filling your paper recto verso.

Take a pen, get started drawing now and let me know how it goes :).

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To carry on with spheres, here is a funny game drawing plenty of circles and make them become a crowd of Minions!