Creating highlights in pencil drawings is an essential skill that can elevate your artwork by adding depth and dimension. Highlights simulate light reflecting off surfaces, giving your drawings a more realistic and dynamic appearance. In this guide, we will explore three diverse examples of creating highlights in pencil drawings, each demonstrating a unique technique you can easily practice.
In this example, we’ll use the blending technique to create highlights on a shiny apple. This method works well for smooth textures where light reflects clearly.
Start by drawing the outline of the apple with a light pencil (like a 2H). Once the shape is established, shade the apple using a medium pencil (like a HB) to create a base layer. Focus on the areas where the apple curves, applying more pressure to lead to darker areas.
Next, to create highlights, take a blending stump or your finger and gently rub over the shaded areas, especially around the edges where light hits the apple. This softens the transitions and helps mimic the glossy surface. Leave a small area near the top of the apple white or very lightly shaded to represent the highlight. This area should be the brightest spot, where light reflects most.
For added realism, you can darken the shadow beneath the apple, contrasting it against the highlighted areas. This technique works well not only for fruits but also for any shiny objects like metal or glass.
Notes & Variations: Experiment with different blending tools, such as tissue paper or cotton swabs, to see how they affect your highlights. You can also try using colored pencils over the top for a mixed media effect.
In this example, we will create highlights on a textured surface, like a crumpled piece of paper. The eraser technique is perfect for this, allowing you to lift graphite to reveal highlights.
Begin by sketching the crumpled paper using a soft pencil (like a 4B). Apply varying degrees of pressure to create shadows and folds. Once you have your base drawing, take a kneaded eraser and shape it into a fine point.
Gently dab the eraser on the areas where light would hit the paper, such as the top edges of the folds. The kneaded eraser will lift the graphite, creating a highlight effect that mimics light reflecting off the textured surface. You can also use a regular white eraser to create sharper highlights.
To enhance the overall look, darken the surrounding shadows to increase contrast. This technique is particularly useful for creating highlights in sketches of fabric, clouds, or any textured surfaces.
Notes & Variations: Try using a colored eraser for different effects. You can also layer additional graphite over the highlights for more depth or experiment with different types of paper to see how they interact with your erasing technique.
In this final example, we’ll explore the stippling technique to create highlights on a rough surface, like a rock or stone. This method adds a unique texture while effectively showing highlights.
Start by lightly sketching the outline of the rock with a hard pencil (like a 2H). Once the basic shape is in place, use a softer pencil (like a 2B) to add shading. Focus on the deeper crevices and shadowed areas, building up layers of graphite.
To create highlights, switch to a sharp pencil (like a 4H) and begin stippling – making small dots or marks in the areas where light would hit the rock. The more closely spaced your dots are, the smoother the highlight will appear. Leave some areas untouched to maintain the natural look of the rock.
You can enhance this effect by darkening the surrounding shaded areas with more graphite, which will make the highlights pop even more. This technique is excellent for natural subjects and can be used in landscapes or still life drawings.
Notes & Variations: Try varying the size of your stipples to create different textures. You can also experiment with using colored pencils alongside stippling for added visual interest.
These examples of creating highlights in pencil drawings demonstrate that with a little practice, you can easily enhance your artwork. Whether you choose to blend, erase, or stipple, each technique offers unique ways to bring your drawings to life. So grab your pencils and start experimenting with highlights today!