What will you learn?
Pencil Shading
Explore drawing materials and ways to use graphite pencils. Practise different shading methods and learn to build a useful range from light to dark.
Apply the techniques to the eye, mouth and hair before moving into extended face and older-portrait studies.
The final sections include still-life and landscape demonstrations. This course concentrates on shading and tonal modelling; freehand construction is explored separately in the faces and characters course.
Learning outcomes
- Control pencil pressure and tonal values
- Compare shading and blending methods
- Shade the eye, mouth and hair
- Develop facial and portrait studies
- Apply light and shade to still lifes and landscapes
Your learning path
Course curriculum
Browse the complete lesson sequence. These are translated lesson titles and descriptions; current video recordings remain in Arabic.
01 · Tools and shading fundamentals6 lessons
- Tools and materials09:12
Practical demonstration: Tools and materials. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Using graphite pencils — Part 115:01
Practical demonstration: Using graphite pencils — Part 1. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Using graphite pencils — Part 210:31
Practical demonstration: Using graphite pencils — Part 2. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Using graphite pencils — Part 308:50
Practical demonstration: Using graphite pencils — Part 3. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Practising shading methods — Part 114:10
Practical demonstration: Practising shading methods — Part 1. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Practising shading methods — Part 211:51
Practical demonstration: Practising shading methods — Part 2. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
02 · An eye study in graphite5 lessons
- Shading the eye — Part 113:40
Practical demonstration: Shading the eye — Part 1. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the eye — Part 210:01
Practical demonstration: Shading the eye — Part 2. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the eye — Part 308:39
Practical demonstration: Shading the eye — Part 3. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the eye — Part 410:26
Practical demonstration: Shading the eye — Part 4. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the eye — Part 513:51
Practical demonstration: Shading the eye — Part 5. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
03 · Drawing the mouth4 lessons
- Drawing the mouth — Part 113:45
Practical demonstration: Drawing the mouth — Part 1. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing the mouth — Part 215:42
Practical demonstration: Drawing the mouth — Part 2. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing the mouth — Part 313:47
Practical demonstration: Drawing the mouth — Part 3. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing the mouth — Part 411:00
Practical demonstration: Drawing the mouth — Part 4. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
04 · Shading hair3 lessons
- Shading hair — Part 108:54
Practical demonstration: Shading hair — Part 1. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading hair — Part 215:25
Practical demonstration: Shading hair — Part 2. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading hair — Part 314:50
Practical demonstration: Shading hair — Part 3. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
05 · An older-face portrait9 lessons
- Shading an older face — Part 115:55
Practical demonstration: Shading an older face — Part 1. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading an older face — Part 215:08
Practical demonstration: Shading an older face — Part 2. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading an older face — Part 313:58
Practical demonstration: Shading an older face — Part 3. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading an older face — Part 416:04
Practical demonstration: Shading an older face — Part 4. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading an older face — Part 517:44
Practical demonstration: Shading an older face — Part 5. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading an older face — Part 618:34
Practical demonstration: Shading an older face — Part 6. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading an older face — Part 715:40
Practical demonstration: Shading an older face — Part 7. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading an older face — Part 814:30
Practical demonstration: Shading an older face — Part 8. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading an older face — Part 915:44
Practical demonstration: Shading an older face — Part 9. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
06 · A face-shading project10 lessons
- Shading the face — Part 115:02
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 1. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the face — Part 215:01
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 2. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the face — Part 315:02
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 3. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the face — Part 414:59
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 4. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the face — Part 514:59
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 5. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the face — Part 615:01
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 6. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the face — Part 715:01
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 7. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the face — Part 815:01
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 8. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the face — Part 915:01
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 9. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Shading the face — Part 1017:54
Practical demonstration: Shading the face — Part 10. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
07 · Drawing a still life4 lessons
- Drawing a still life — Part 115:01
Practical demonstration: Drawing a still life — Part 1. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing a still life — Part 215:00
Practical demonstration: Drawing a still life — Part 2. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing a still life — Part 315:01
Practical demonstration: Drawing a still life — Part 3. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing a still life — Part 409:28
Practical demonstration: Drawing a still life — Part 4. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
08 · Drawing landscapes6 lessons
- Drawing a landscape — Part 115:01
Practical demonstration: Drawing a landscape — Part 1. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing a landscape — Part 214:59
Practical demonstration: Drawing a landscape — Part 2. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing a landscape — Part 315:01
Practical demonstration: Drawing a landscape — Part 3. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing a landscape — Part 415:02
Practical demonstration: Drawing a landscape — Part 4. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing a landscape — Part 515:01
Practical demonstration: Drawing a landscape — Part 5. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
- Drawing a landscape — Part 615:23
Practical demonstration: Drawing a landscape — Part 6. Watch the steps, pause to practise and review the result before continuing.
Tools and materials
- Graphite pencils in suitable grades
- Drawing paper
- Erasers
- Blending and sharpening tools used in the demonstrations
Materials, software and devices are purchased separately. Check compatibility and follow the safety instructions for the products you use.
Make time for practice
Watch a manageable part of the demonstration, pause and try the steps yourself. Keep your exercises so that you can compare them. Return to difficult sections and develop your work at your own pace.
Who is this course for?
Learners who want to practise graphite shading and develop more convincing light, form and texture.
Record your progress
Your account saves lesson completion and playback position. Once eligible, request a completion certificate with the name you want printed on it. Newer members need to complete 60% of the lessons; eligible previous members can request directly. The certificate is emailed once per course and is not an academic or government qualification.
Read certificate and learning terms ↗Questions about this course
What language are the recordings in?
Arabic recordings are available now. English recordings are coming soon and will be added to this same course without another purchase.
Will I need to buy the same course in the other language?
No. Both website languages use the same course and enrolment. Your valid access opens the same course without another purchase. English recordings are playable only after they are supplied and verified.
How do I access my lessons?
Sign in with the account used for purchase. After payment confirmation, open My Courses and choose this course. Lessons are streamed in your account and can be paused and replayed.
How do I receive a certificate?
Request it from your learning space once eligible. Members registered after 10 October 2026 need 60% lesson completion. Eligible previous members can request directly. The certificate is emailed as an image and is not an academic qualification.
Are materials or software included?
The course price covers the recorded educational content. Required art materials, software and devices are separate. Review the tools list before enrolling.
