Third stage - The Shading /Reflection Stage
As you carefully add the dark areas to the picture, pay attention to the shape and texture of the shadows and the reflections. Blend cautiously being careful not to smudge the lighter areas. Paint into the picture 'carving' out the lighter tones with darker tones when appropriate. To define objects reverse the background color. This creates wonderful dramatic contrasts.
To round out objects and add dimension and depth to your picture add reflected tones. Reflected tones are visual echoes of usually cooler colors toward the blue end of the color spectrum (blues, violets and greens). They usually occur between the median color and the darkest color on the shadow side of objects opposite the light source.
Try these three steps:
(1) Study it on the original
(2) Spot it on the chalk
(3) Sketch it on the paper
You will discover where you don't draw is more important than where you do draw. The missed, skipped, or "trapped shaped" will determine the detail, clarity and realism of much of your drawing.
Marbling
Complex details can be formed quickly and easily with a technique called, 'marbling'. This is dragging the wide, flat side of the chalk once over the selected reflection area. The chalk must be soft and the paper close to saturation point to work well. This works great for tree trunk bark (shadow side), posts, poles, paths, lanes, roads, rock formations, mountains, people, animals, fish and birds.
Multi-colored marbling, or 'knife' painting (as in oil painting with palette knives), can easily be accomplished by actually pressing a large flat side of a new, soft piece of chalk into your left over chalk dust in your tray. By dragging, twisting, changing the angle and pressure you can create a myriad of lights, shadows and reflected tones with a myriad of colors in just one stroke!.
