The art so shading requires you to be able to manage the pencil in a manner where you have complete control. You will need to be completely focused while doing so in order to ensure that each and every mark that you make on paper creates the effect that you want. You can do shading with a point or with a flat side of the pencil too. Shading that is done with the flat side is grainier and softer. The specific kind of pencil that you use to shade will also affect the kind of result that you get.

When you are shading a larger area, people tend to go back and forth and then turn back at the same point at which they stopped earlier. This ensures that you have even edges. While this may work if you have a smaller patch to shade, the entire shading can look extremely different if you have a larger patch with obvious cut off points.

Sometimes using the scumbling technique or brillo pad technique helps to shade larger areas. This can be done by using overlapping circles while shading. To use the scumbling technique you will need to use a light touch with the pencil and also work in the area that needs shading in an irregular manner. The idea is to build up the darkness of the shading over time.

There are times when you also need to change the direction of the shading. This is extremely essential when you are shading in an irregular piece of drawing. This is also extremely useful to indicate an edge or change of plane.