Hello!

This is my first tutorial, but I thought it would be nice to finally post something here, since I've been asked about how I shade on other sites^^

When starting out, it doesn't matter what brush you choose, I choose sharp and simple ones, usually the same ones I use for the lineart. But you can use whichever one you want, it doesn't make any difference.

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When shading, choose colors that are in the background. If your character is standing outside in the snow, for example, the shading will be appropriate with a cold color, maybe blue. Likewise, if they are in the sun, then shade with a warm color.

Of course, if you don't want to think about it too much (like me), then use purple. You'll find out why later. And it’s on the Multiply mode.

The next step is light, shine and sparkles. Same as before, you choose either the background color (cool or warm) or this time orange as the default. Use Color Dodge mode.

Theoretically we could end there, but now for my personal additions:

I add an overlay layer on top of all this. The color is the one that is in the background if you want the character to match it all. Play around with the opacity a bit, feel free to adjust it as you like.

 

I usually use a full dark purple for a base and then a light cream color with an airbrush. In my opinion, it adds something that makes the drawing Juicy.

 

 

The last ones are the details with white color, because it looks nice and nicely highlights the parts you want. 

I usually go along the edge of the black line, but it's not necessary.

Then the background and well, that's pretty much it!

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Hope it doesn’t suck as much as I think it does. But hey, it’s not like it’s something difficult, right?