An artist draws a still life with three objects. Object A has a shadow falling to the lower right, Object B's shadow falls to the lower left, and Object C's shadow falls straight down. What does this reveal about the drawing?
AThe artist has captured complex natural lighting from multiple ambient sources
BThe shadows are correct — shadow direction naturally varies based on each object's shape
CThe drawing has an inconsistency — a single light source would cast all shadows in the same direction
DOnly one of the three objects is lit incorrectly; the other two may both be right
A single light source produces shadows that all fall in the same direction relative to each object. If light comes from the upper left, all shadows fall to the lower right — across every object without exception. Three objects with three different shadow directions imply three different light sources, which contradicts the premise of a unified composition. This inconsistency breaks the illusion of shared space.
Question 2 Multiple Choice
What is the difference between a core shadow and a cast shadow?
ACore shadows appear on flat surfaces; cast shadows appear on curved objects
BCore shadows are the dark zone on the object itself where light cannot reach; cast shadows are silhouettes projected by the object onto surrounding surfaces
CCore shadows are the darkest areas at the center of an object; cast shadows are pale areas near the object's edges
DThere is no meaningful difference — both terms refer to the same zone of darkness
These are two distinct phenomena. The core shadow lives on the surface of the object — it is where the surface curves far enough away from the light that rays can no longer reach it. The cast shadow lives on external surfaces (table, wall) — it is the projected silhouette of the object blocking light from those surfaces. Confusing them leads to misplacing darks both on and around objects.
Question 3 True / False
A light source placed very close to an object produces a larger, more fan-shaped cast shadow than the same object lit by a distant light source.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: True
Light rays from a nearby source diverge sharply as they pass the object's edges, causing the projected shadow to spread widely. A distant source produces nearly parallel rays, so the cast shadow is closer in size to the object itself and has sharper, more defined edges. This is why sunlight (an extremely distant source) produces tight cast shadows while a nearby lamp produces large, spreading ones.
Question 4 True / False
The core shadow on a rounded form is located at the outermost visible edge of the object.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
The core shadow sits slightly before the outermost edge. At the very edge, light bouncing from nearby surfaces (reflected light) creates a thin, subtle lightening — making that edge slightly lighter than the core shadow band. The core shadow is therefore a band on the form, inset from the silhouette edge. This reflected light is what makes a rounded form look fully three-dimensional rather than flat.
Question 5 Short Answer
Why does shadow consistency matter in a composition, and how can an artist verify that all shadows obey the same light source?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Shadow consistency maintains the illusion that all objects exist in the same space under a single light. When shadows contradict each other, viewers sense something is wrong even if they cannot name it — the composition feels visually unstable. To verify consistency, extend imaginary lines from each cast shadow back toward the supposed light source: all lines should converge at the same point. If they don't, shadows need correction.
The brain reads shadow direction as information about spatial relationships and light. Contradictory shadows signal incompatible spatial information, which breaks the viewer's trust in the depicted space. Working from imagination, establishing the light source position first — even sketching a small sun symbol in the margin — and constructing each shadow systematically from that fixed point is the disciplined approach that prevents inconsistency before it occurs.