First real picture done, need shading help

[Jonas]

Ok! So I fiddled a bit more after making an icon and this is the result (thanks to those who helped me resize):



I'd like to shade it a bit but I'm not sure how to do that.

[Pontos]

That's nice

For shading you can do what Vir does: Create a new layer with reduced opacity (making anything on it transparent), and using a black brush in the places you want the shadows.

[KaiAdin]

Hehe! How cute! GlassesFox!

You could like Shrink it in SAI, using the same way Virmir said on making it Bigger, or you could use paint and the "Stretch/Skew" tool and use a Value <100%.

Learning shading is hard... *is trying to learn it* if your trying for the technical side of it yea.. what ponty said. From the art point of view, try to imagine the 'light' coming from one part of the picture then imagine how the shadows would fall from that.

(Hope that helps! )

[Tvorsk]

You could like Shrink it in SAI, using the same way Virmir said on making it Bigger, or you could use paint and the "Stretch/Skew" tool and use a Value <100%.

... or just use the "resize" and/or "link as a thumbnail" option available at Photobucket, Imageshack, ArtSpots, or whatever you're using...

[Virmir]

Awesome!  Great work.

Yep, Pontos pretty much describes how I handle shading.  Just imagine a light source and fill in your shadows opposite that.

[Jonas]

Well I *think* I've shaded it. I say *think* since I'm not sure if it actualy looks shaded or just plain blotchy =/



By the way, how do I get these little fox heads to smile? 

[Tvorsk]

Well, it's looking quite good to me... not that I know what I'm talking about.
Anyway, curiosity forces me to ask... did you got a tablet or is this mouse drawn?

About the smileys... you should see a [more] button at far end of the tool bar, click it.
In general, they're "{ : )", "{ ; )", "{ : (", "{ : P" and "{ : O" with spaces removed.
For different fox colors, replace "{" with "[", "]" or "|".

[Fen]

looks pretty good, but I lack artistic talent of the drawing kind, so... yeah.

[Jonas]

Anyway, curiosity forces me to ask... did you got a tablet or is this mouse drawn?

Mouse-drawn. Linework layers for the win!

[Virmir]

I like it!  Nice shading work.

[Lopez]

Good work on the shading! I remember...back in the day...when I did my pixelated shading with MSPaint...(Reminisces)...

However, don't be afraid to add highlights as well. Highlights help give characters that pop that shading alone can't do. I was kind of terrified of highlights...but now I know I don't have too much to fear from them. Raised bumps/Close to light=Highlights. Valleys/far away from light=Shadows. Good luck!