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Hey guys, I’ve got a problem with my shading. First I drew my base layer with an HB pencil, then I added the darker shading on the nose and cheeks with a 4HB. Even though I blended everything with a cotton swab, it still looks really blotchy. How can I fix this so it becomes smooth and even? I don’t really understand what I’m doing wrong.
Ali10 Comments-
Hello there, probably our experts could comment fairly, but I want to know do you use a reference image? Your outlines are not aligned,
I can’t imagine and draw especially the shades. The shades provide a distance perspective, thus creating the 3D feel to it.
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Hey Hermann, thanks for sharing your drawing and honestly, it’s great that you’re paying attention to the shading issues. That awareness already puts you ahead of most beginners.
So here’s what’s really happening, in a simple and friendly way. Your shading is struggling because the layers aren’t building up smoothly. You start with an HB base, then jump straight into a 4B for the darker areas. That jump is pretty big, so instead of creating a soft transition, the graphite sits in uneven spots on the paper and gives you that blotchy texture you’re seeing. And when you blend with a cotton swab, it doesn’t actually blend the graphite into the paper it just kind of pushes it around, which exaggerates those blotchy areas even more.
You can fix this by slowing down the transitions. Think of shading like slowly adding milk into coffee, not pouring it all at once. Put your HB layer with very light pressure, then move to a 2B before touching the 4B. That middle pencil is what will make the whole thing look smooth and natural. Tiny circular strokes also help fill the paper evenly so there are no patches.
Blending will also improve a lot if you switch to a tissue or blending stump. They melt the graphite into the paper instead of smearing it.
And about the drawing itself you’ve got a very nice foundation! The proportions and symmetry are just a bit off in places, but nothing dramatic. Once you choose a clear light source and build shadows consistently from that direction, everything will start to look more intentional and less random.
But seriously: this is all technique, not talent. These are the exact problems everyone faces when learning shading, and with a few small adjustments you’ll see huge improvements really fast.
If you want, I can also give you a simple five-minute daily shading drill that will help you smooth everything out. Just let me know! 😊✏️2 -
Thank you very much for your comment and your opinion, Master! I’ll try to get a grip on it.
I’ve only been drawing for three weeks, so I still have a lot to learn, but I’m addicted to getting better – especially when it comes to proportions and shading, the most important parts.
I would be very grateful if you could give me a 5-minute tutorial. Thank you so much for that.
Greetings from Germany,
Hermann -
Hi Hermann,
You started drawing three weeks ago? Why on earth would you make it so difficult for yourself by drawing a human face 😱🫢
I’m not judging you in any way by the way! I also started with a human eye and the next step was drawing an advanced portrait of a girl with water on her face. I even was disappointed that it didn’t look that well as I had hoped…I never knew this was an advanced drawing at that point but now I certainly do know 🤯😂
I can really recommend the course of Ali on Udemy. This helps you understand and execute the basics and you are working towards drawing a beautiful realistic human face.
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@Art_by_Nicole I’m very, very impatient, and I get bored when I only draw eyes, lips, or circles 😂😂😂. And yes, I know that can be a mistake, but I’m very ambitious and I draw almost 3–4 hours every day because I want to learn this as fast as possible. I also don’t want to use the grid method — I want to start with the Loomis method right away. I’m really sorry if I seem so hasty 😂
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@martinhermann2 It’s not about doing something good or wrong in art that’s why I said ‘you are making things very difficult for yourself’. If you like it that way that’s up to you of course 😀
To be honest I still don’t use the Loomis method. I could, but there’s too much room for error if I do it anyway, haha. And nothing makes me more frustrated if the basic sketch is off.I like to focus on shading and making it come to live. If the basic outlines are off the whole drawing won’t look like the way I want to. That’s why I use Grid. It’s easier and faster. But everyone has their own way of doing things. That’s the beauty of art.
EVery person has their own way of learning and developing skills. I like to start right away and draw along with tutorials. Because im a perfectionist I realised soon enough that it would be easier if I got the basics correct and then follow along. In my case it can even mean that I use ‘the window-method’… Stick your photo on a window – put your drawingpaper on top of it – and…just draw the outlines 😂
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@Art_by_Nicole by the way ur opinion its really important for me !
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@Art_by_Nicole this are my Drawings since I started for 3 weeks
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@martinhermann2Did you use the same paper for these drawings?
I see heavy tooth on the paper. Heavy tooth makes creating smooth values very difficult.The paper also can damage very easily with erasing.
I don’t care what anyone says, but paper does matter. YOu want materials that work with you instead of against you. I tried tons of different paper and or brands.
– Clairfontaine 250gsm mixed media. A bit of tooth but almost smooth. Works very well with blending.
– Canson Drawing: I started with this paper. A fine tooth. I dont use it anymore because I like pure white colour better and I damaged the paper too easily. But that could be because im heavy handed.
– Strathmore Drawing – 400 series: very good and strong paper. It’s an offwhite paper.
– Strathmore Mixec media – 400 series: can handle a lot of mediums but you have to be a bit more careful with layering. Its an pure white paper.
– Watercolourpaper Hot Pressed works also very (!) good with graphite. but you have to be more careful with choosing a brand.
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Yes it is a skatchbook from Amazon… I will try your recommandation Thank you alot for ur opinion an Tipps!
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