How to Draw a Shaded Sphere

Co-authored by Kelly Medford

Last Updated: April 28, 2023

The secret to making a two-dimensional circle look like a three-dimensional sphere is the shading. A light will create a bright spot, with a gradient to darker shadows on the opposite side. Read on to learn how you can master this technique for yourself.

Steps

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You can use a pair of compasses or trace a round object or circular template to get a clean circle.
The light source in this example is on the upper left, somewhat in front of the page (or behind the viewer).

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Begin shading. Start opposite the light source and move inwards. The darkest area will be furthest from the light source. Create circles or partial circles of equal value (darkness).
- The darkest part is not all the way to the edge, but in the middle of the shaded side of the sphere. The sphere is round, and as it turns back towards the light, it picks up some of the reflected light again and gets lighter.
- Try to make your transitions as smooth as possible. Using the side of the pencil can be an easy way to do it.
As you move towards the light source, fill the circle with less and less pressure, heavier on the dark area, lighter on the light area. You can leave a round spot nearest the light source the color of the white page.
Use your finger or a tortillon to blend the shading and add a shadow. Notice how the circle now appears spherical, with depth.

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Can I use this sphere to draw a planet?

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Yes, you can for the basic shape of the planet.

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How do I draw an igloo?

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Draw a half circle, then draw a slanted graph on the half circle to make it look like it is made out of snow blocks.

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How was the sphere named?

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The English "sphere" comes from the Greek "sphaîra," meaning "ball" or "globe."

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Tips

Do not put too much pressure on the spheres or else it won't look realistic!

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You can use an eraser if you made the light part too dark.

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Add/think of a sun or light source on your page.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you erase and start again too often, you'll end up leaving ghost lines as the texture of the paper wears away. At a certain point, you'll have to start over if you just can't get the circle to look right.
When it comes to fixing shading, I find it's best to use the softest available eraser first. This way, you won't end up overdoing it and removing too much shading.
Shading will often look best if you use pencils with different shades (4A, HB, 4H, etc). This way, you'll get a variety of tones and shades to create depth.
When smudging with your finger, rub in the direction you want the shape to look. If you move back and forth, it's going to look unrealistic.

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