How to Draw Shadows in 2 Point Perspective - Two Methods

[@DeWaynesArtDreams]

I saw videos where they used the light source, and LS VP, and other videos where they drew the direction of light lines as parallel lines. But you are the first person whose video I've seen that described why there are these 2 different ways to draw cast shadows. Thanks for the video and the clarification.

[@stephentraversart]

Always glad to have been of help. 😀

[@jujubeethatsme]

Awe. I really like the encouragement at the end, especially the part where you acknowledged that you had to learn some things for these videos! I appreciate seeing your humanness and find it relatable. Thanks.

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Juju. I don’t pretend I know it all. But I do know the answers to questions I’ve asked myself, which I figure other artists want to know as well. Glad it’s worked for you. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@Aiphiae]

5:40 I don't get the natural light source light angle and light line. Are they completely independent of each other? Does the light angle serve any purpose other than to set up the lines for the light direction? Do they have to be on the same side of the object? If the light angle was coming from the other direction, that light direction wouldn't cast a shadow, right? So how do you know (aside from experience or sketching it out) which light angle to use? Probably a dumb question but every video I see people draw very similar light angles but never explain if it matters what direction they go.

[@Sara-hn2zy]

Great video! You explained everything very clearly and efficiently. Just got into drawing and I enjoyed the tutorial, thanks!

[@stephentraversart]

Excellent to hear Sara. All the best with your drawing 😀

[@smashrhythm]

Well done 😏been looking for instructions on rear light source shadows. Thanks 🙏 this subject is commonly overlooked amongst perspective tutorials, and you explained it beautifully. thanks again😊

[@stephentraversart]

Every teacher loves to hear their lesson was timely. Thanks 😀

[@Thepeachlives]

This is difficult to find information. I have several books on perspective and this isn't mentioned in any of them. Very helpful! Thank you again Stephen!

[@stephentraversart]

You're very welcome! Have you seen my perspective playlists?😀

[@Thepeachlives]

I found them. Thank you!@@stephentraversart

[@jacklewis2540]

It would be worth pointing out in this tutorial the difference between an artificial light source and the sun. If the shadow is cast by the sun then the light rays would be parallel due to the sun's great distance. If the light source is an artificial one e.g. a street lamp, then the light rays can be drawn from the light source. A simple explanation is that when you move sideways from an artificial light, the light stays fixed in its position whereas if you try and move sideways from the sun, then sun moves with you. Therefore the sun rays are parallel. It is a common error perpetuated in many perspective tutorials.

[@stephentraversart]

It’s a good point Jack. Thanks. 😀

[@mrtheblacksheep5172]

Where can I learn more about that? Any videos or books? I want to understand more about the difference between these two “light sources”

[@jujubeethatsme]

Agreed. It'd be nice to see drawing examples. Also, I would like to see examples of applying this to circular objects - how many points minimum does one need for the shadow? The shadow is a tilted oval - do the methods change figuring this out?

[@chubel1021]

Thank you for the distinction and the two different methods!

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful 😀

[@kerchpics]

Thanks very much. Very clear and easy to understand.

[@stephentraversart]

I appreciate your saying that Brian. I have two perspective playlists with my channel, one with over 40 videos, the other where I’ve chosen ten and arranged them in an order to make them a bit like a course, if you’re interested. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@ghostpants1027]

9:04 how do you know to connect that intersecting light angle and light direction point to that bottom corner of the box?

[@uglany4]

4:55 you said we can't draw shadow when light source is behind us. Also, if I remember correctly, vanishing points mean that lines that cross them are parallel. But if our light source is the sun, then every light line is parallel. We could use first method to draw shadow from low sun's light from over the shoulder using a light point below the horizon and shadow vanishing point on the horizon. If I'm wrong please correct me

[@stephentraversart]

This video was quite a while ago, but I may have been thinking that if the sun is behind us we can’t see the angle as we don’t know its position in the sky. 😀

[@Art_Cath]

Very clear explications and simple!thanks for this vidéo...just to try practicing it on complexe structure 🙂

[@stephentraversart]

Hope it works for you. Thanks for telling me. 😀

[@farisitum9594]

Thank you for the video Travers love all your videos

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks for telling me Faris. Much appreciated. All the best with your drawing 😀

[@G0NI25]

Thank you so much for this. This was very helpful and I will make usage of this to improve on my perspective drawings. Although I do I have question, how exactly would the first technique work in a 3 point perspective situation?

[@SomaPal-s6z]

Good video...Clear explanation

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful!😀

[@atheransari8038]

Good knowledge of shadow from u. Thank u sir

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure 😀

[@oliverpierre22]

Mind blown!! I thought you'd lost me at the difference between light angle and light direction, but no! I got it!! Fantastic content!! Thank you so much.

[@stephentraversart]

That’s very encouraging to hear Sarah. I wasn’t sure if this was the right topic for a video, but it was worth it just for your enthusiasm! Thanks. 😀

[@moparguy5876]

​@stephentraversart what is the difference between light angle vs light direction?

[@PeterQuentercrimsonbamboo]

Same for me… light angle is from top behind towards the viewer… and light direction is from right side to left side… but where from and what determines the light’angle’ ? Why are those parallel lines drawn from top behind to bottom front when the light source is on the right ?

[@Romahotmetytky]

For the second method does it have a name ? Also what if object does not tocu the ground e.g letter "T" how do you find where the light rays intersec the ground dor the top part of T for the second method?

[@stephentraversart]

I don’t know about names, but I would use whatever method works most easily for a shape. And it’s location. 😀

[@HaiNguyen-xv6bn]

Thank you so much :D just in time i'm looking for itt :>>❤

[@stephentraversart]

Excellent to hear👏

[@Ani.me_006]

Well, now I've learned more about perspective 👏

[@stephentraversart]

It’s always great to learn, isn’t it Mahdi. I hope it’s helpful. 😀

[@Zaina_tarek]

Wow sir you saved my grades 😅 THANKS🌻🌻

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure. So glad to help. 😀

[@TheOldBaz]

Really helpful thank you

[@stephentraversart]

Pleased to hear it. 😀

[@realartacademy]

Really good work

[@stephentraversart]

Appreciate your telling me 😀

[@fahime.1007]

Thanks🍃

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure 😀

[@jacklewis2540]

I have attempted to do this on an astronomy forum but the moderator will not allow me to post a question about it. I included a perspective construction using a 'light source' without stating it was the sun as it could be an artificial light source. If the geometry is wrong then I would expect them to queue-up to debunk it!

[@stephentraversart]

Maybe there aren’t many astronomer-architects!😀

[@jacklewis2540]

@@stephentraversart They don't need to be, they only need to understand geometry and trigonometry!

[@Usif_mohamd2004]

Why did you direct the light like that?

[@stephentraversart]

It’s just where I chose to put it😀

[@Usif_mohamd2004]

@@stephentraversart thanks I'm proud of you

[@jacklewis2540]

if you really want to upset astronomers apply this perspective construction to 'crepuscular sun rays'. If you don't know what they are then do an image search.

[@stephentraversart]

Haha. I think I’m in no danger of doing that. Although I do have one astronomer friend . . . 😆

[@jujubeethatsme]

Do you have any suggtions for reading about the shadows of these rays for the lay person?