So I’ve been obsessed with how painters like Rembrandt make things pop with crazy light and shadow games. Decided today’s practice would be all about copying that chiaroscuro magic with my charcoal pencils. Grabbed my sketchpad under crappy apartment lighting – yeah, that flickering bulb I keep forgetting to replace. Started shading a wine bottle first since it was collecting dust on the counter.
The Hot Mess Phase
Scribbled hard for the shadows like I always do. Ended up looking like someone dumped coal dust on paper. Totally forgot that famous artists don’t just smash dark patches everywhere. Had to wipe half the page with my kneaded eraser (that grey lump’s more rubber cement than eraser now). Almost quit right there.
Turning Point
Remembered that Caravaggio painting of fruit I saw online. Stopped trying to invent light from my head and set up an actual lamp. Positioned it sideways at my coffee mug so one handle vanished completely in shadow. Key things clicked:
- Stop outlining stuff first – instead mapped where light totally died first
- Pressed lighter than a feather for transition zones
- Left paper white where the fake sunbeam hit hardest
Trial & Error
Tested on an onion next. Made the weirdest mistake – drew the cast shadow heading the wrong way like some deranged sundial. Erased, moved the lamp, tried again. This time the shadow sneaked under the onion peel curves just right. Actually gasped when the 3D illusion popped. Used my pinky to smudge mid-tones till it looked velvety.
My Game Changers
After five failed attempts and one smudged elbow, here’s what actually worked:
- Squint like you’re drunk to simplify lights/darks
- Start shadows pitch black then crawl toward light zones
- Use eraser as drawing tool to carve out light shapes
- Rotate the damn object when stuck – saw new shadows instantly
Wound up with a decent pear study after three hours. Still looks more “bruised fruit” than Dutch masterpiece, but hey – those shadows finally feel alive. Moral? Stop overthinking. Play light like a kid with a flashlight in a dark closet. Taped today’s sketches to my fridge next to expired coupons. That flickering bulb’s still annoying, but damn it makes great cast shadows now.
