The Key to Realistic Drawings

The key to realistic drawings falls rather heavily on one key element. Sure, you should be able to capture a likeness with some competence. That’s a given. But creating a line drawing is one thing. Creating a fully rendered realistic drawing is another thing entirely.

That key element is value.

Value, or shading, is what gives drawings (or paintings, or digital drawings) that quality of realism. Value gives a sense of depth and form. I’ll be discussing things from the drawing on paper perspective but apply the tips to whatever medium…