How to Draw a Cup & Saucer | Still Life Drawing and Shading Cup

Meta Description:

Learn how to draw and shade a cup and saucer with this easy step-by-step still life drawing tutorial. Perfect for beginners who want to master pencil shading and 3D effects in still life art.

☕ Introduction: Mastering Still Life with a Simple Cup & Saucer

Still life drawing is a foundational skill for any aspiring artist. It teaches you how to observe shapes, light, and shadows — and one of the best beginner-friendly subjects is a cup and saucer. This tutorial will guide you through how to draw a cup and saucer step by step, with emphasis on realistic pencil shading techniques.

Whether you’re just starting out or refining your skills, this guide will help you turn a simple object into stunning 3D art through proper observation and shading.

🧰 Materials Needed

Before you start, gather these basic materials:

Graphite pencils (2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B)
Erasers (kneaded and regular)
Blending tools (tissue, cotton swab, or blending stump)
Ruler (for aligning ellipses if needed)
Smooth sketch paper or drawing pad
Reference image or a real cup & saucer for accuracy

🎨 Step-by-Step Guide: Drawing and Shading a Cup & Saucer

✏️ Step 1: Light Outline of the Basic Shapes

Start by sketching lightly:

Draw a vertical center line as your guide.
Add two ellipses: one for the top rim of the cup and one below for the saucer.
Sketch a curved line connecting the ellipses for the cup’s body.
Draw the saucer as a wider ellipse beneath the cup.
Add a small oval handle on one side of the cup.

📝 Tip: Use light pressure with an H or 2H pencil so you can adjust proportions easily.

🧭 Step 2: Define Proportions and Clean Up

Now refine the shape:

Ensure the ellipses look even and symmetrical.
Clean up construction lines.
Adjust the width and height of the cup and saucer for balance.
Outline the cup handle more clearly, following the curve of the cup.

Accuracy in this stage is important — a crooked base or rim can throw off realism.

🔦 Step 3: Identify the Light Source

Decide where your light is coming from (e.g., top left). Mark lightly:

Highlight zones (top of cup rim, cup body, and saucer edge).
Midtones (most of the curved body).
Core shadows (inner cup, lower saucer area, and opposite side from light).
Cast shadow (where the cup blocks light onto the saucer or surface).

🎨 Step 4: Begin Shading the Cup

Start shading using:

HB or 2B pencil for base tones.
Use circular strokes for even texture on the cup's surface.
Leave the highlight areas white or lightly shaded.
Use a 2B–4B pencil to darken shadows and give the cup a cylindrical look.

Blend with tissue or stump for smoothness. Avoid over-blending to keep texture realistic.

🍽️ Step 5: Shade the Saucer and Handle

Saucer shading should follow its curved surface.
The area directly under the cup is darkest — use 4B or 6B there.
Shade from dark (under the cup) to light (saucer rim) for depth.
Use light curved strokes on the handle — shade its underside and inner part more heavily.

Handles are often the trickiest part — pay close attention to light direction and overlapping shadows.

🌑 Step 6: Add Cast Shadows for Realism

The cast shadow helps “anchor” the object to the surface.
Use a 4B–6B pencil to darken the shadow directly below the cup.
Soften edges outward using a tissue or stump — real shadows aren’t sharp unless the light is very harsh.

🖌️ Step 7: Final Touches

Add tiny details like rim thickness or handle edge.
Use a kneaded eraser to lift subtle highlights for contrast.
Gently darken the core shadows to boost 3D depth.
Check proportions one last time — correct any warps or misalignments.

How to Draw a Cup & Saucer | Still Life Drawing and Shading Cup | Still Life Shading Object Easy

condex