Shadows are one of the most underrated areas of an image by students. The first mistake often made is an over-insistence on creating dull, black shadows. However, shadows are often some of the most exciting and chromatic parts of an image. If handled properly, they can be a powerful tool for controlling the mood of our work and truly placing a character into an environment.
Much of this over-insistence on black can be traced back to the one overriding idea many people have about shadows: that they are dark. Our artworks will always be an expression of our knowledge of a subject, so if we can improve our knowledge of how shadows work, we can improve our depictions of them and access some of the strength of expression contained within.
However, shadows are also often a source of confusion, and the level of variety can feel quite overwhelming at times. Adding to this, there are a few
