How to do Shading - like in the weekly animal challenge "Bugs"

Link to shaded bugs

I'm more of a cartoon person but I am fascinated by the bugs and shading from that link, also I saw some bubbles on a thread and someone offered to show how to shade the bubbles and now i cant find the thread.

Metina maybe someone might be able to do a step by step for the newsletter. Thanks for the help. Lauri

I'm more of a cartoon person too. I love how so many people on here can do such realistic paintings.
I don't know if this helps but Linda once told me to think about a light bulb hanging somewhere near your image (like off to one side) then imagine where the light would naturally fall to create highlights and shadows. My execution still stinks but when I picture my little dangly light bulb it helps me figure out where things might go.

I couldn't remember where I found the inspiration for my spiders, but I finally found it!
This link leads to the snazaroo step by step site. Scroll down for the spider (the other step by steps are worth watching too!).
http://www.snazaroo.us/09/9step.htm

I guess I need to hit the forum shop since I don't have any light brown paint...from the snaz tut, any suggestions on color?

ha ha, good excuse to buy some other paints when you have to order brown.
I didn't use any brown for my spiders. I started the spider with black (legs are 3 teardrops). then put some grey/white on it. And finally shadowed with grey (put lines from the top of the leg to the body). The snazaroo spider is much better though, maybe buy the brown anyway

I use a black or brown wash of paint. This is watered down paint. The lid to my dfx black has dried black stains & works perfect for shading. I just wet a brush & swish it around in the lid.

that's a good idea Linda, have to try that.

I struggle a lot with placing my shadows, I never understood the mumbo jumbo my teacher was telling me about how the light hits & casts a shadow. Cursed ADD!!!

Linda, I will try the wash from a lid as well, I have the dfx brown and maybe I will make a wash out of that to try. "real life" art scares the p00p outta me, but this forum makes me so inspired too try...
I'm hoping for a step-by-step in the next newsletter.......eyes closed, fingers crossed.....

Shading....

1. I use the base color and either add darker or lighter (grey/white) colors to make a gradient of colors.

2. I use a wash (dark/light) to highlight as needed.

I don't always use B&W... often I will use a close color with a darker/lighter hue to add depth to what I'm painting.

hope this helps

This is why I wish I could teach. It's something easier shown than explained.

It is hard for me cause I'm very much a visual learner

I just took Carolyn Ropers class and she used black eyeshadow - it looked amazing and was so easy!

That's a good idea. Black "bugshaddow". <------har har har