Flat wood? Never heard of her.
If pointillism is patience, shading is finesse. This is the technique that turns a plain burn into something dimensional and downright cinematic.
Why Shading Matters
Shading adds:
- depth
- contrast
- realism
- and the illusion that you absolutely know what you’re doing (even on days you doubt it)
The Basics
Shading comes down to three things:
- Heat control: low and slow wins.
- Pressure control: lighter pressure reduces scorch marks and uneven patches.
- Layering: start light, build gradually, avoid the “oops, that’s too dark” panic moment.
Practice Exercise
Try shading:
- a sphere (classic exercise, also makes you feel like you’re back in 8th-grade art class),
- a feather,
- or a mountain with atmospheric layers.
You’ll see how heat, angle, and stroke length completely change the mood of your burn.
With this dragon piece, I began shading from the edges in. Think of it like an airplane flying and swooping low and back up. Touch down on the edge, drag it into the center, and then back up. This gives the piece dimension as you create the dark and light effects.
