Light and shadow — Art, 7–10 years
Light changes what we can see, and shadows help artists make objects look solid and show the time or mood of a scene.
Light makes form visible
Light parts of an object are turned towards a light source, while shadowed parts receive less light. A cast shadow falls from the object onto another surface, such as a table or wall. Artists use these changes from light to dark to show roundness, position and direction.
Why shadows matter
A coloured shape alone can look like a flat sticker. Artists needed a way to show that a ball is round, that a cup stands on a table and that a person is in sunlight. Light and shadow solve this problem, while also helping a picture feel sunny, mysterious, late or early.
Shading a ball
Place a small lamp to the left of a ball. Mark the brightest spot on the ball’s left side, then colour the right side more darkly with a gradual change, not a sharp stripe. Finally, draw the cast shadow on the table to the right. The light direction now makes the ball look round and grounded.
A shadow is not always black
Many people colour every shadow black because a shadow looks dark in a strong photograph. That is a reasonable shortcut, but real shadows borrow colour from the light and nearby surfaces. A shadow on green grass may look greenish, and a soft lamp can make a pale, blurry shadow. Darker does not always mean black.
Light and shadow in daily life
Photographers choose where light falls so a face or object can look clear, dramatic or gentle. Animators and game artists shade characters and places so they seem to stand in a real world. Architects also study sunlight and shadow when planning windows, rooms and outdoor spaces.
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