problems in basic lighting

[rapxic]

i've been here for a while but haven't coloured my own stuff yet but other people's line work thats why i haven't posted any of my colours

well lately i've been drawn to enhancing my digi colouring more in the sense of making it look more semi realistic, i seem to be getting results in the small test i do with orbs but just can't seem to sink that in with other forms , even basic cellshading is a huge problem for me. i just can't seem to get my high-lighting right. if i could get my highlighting right that would be so awesome.

but i was wondering if i should mimic lighting from pictures or stuff around me cuz i really can't calculate where to put in my shadows on forms such as an animal, human, plant etc. sometimes i get one part right but the rest just looks off like as if it was 10 people colouring the picture in seperate parts with out communicating with each other on how the other one's lightng and form gonna effect the other ones.

didnt know colours had so much concept in it especially the lighting part but please help me out been at this for some months.

i just need that firm foundation in basic lighting

[res01ve]

I've tried to read about lighting, but I found the theory useless on its own.
It began to make sense only when I worked from life. Grab some simple objects, set up a light over them and slowly capture it in your medium of choice. I'd set up some white paper under the objects so you can really see the reflected light, the cast shadows, the core shadows and the diffused light.
There's a lot to learn from simple drawings.

[Blue]

to expand on res01ve's post, if you want to learn about how light and shadows work set up a still life with 2 different colored lights set to opposite sides of the object. The shadow for light 1 will be the color of light two, and vise versa. Once you have the lamps in front of you and you can play with them, you can start to put all the pieces together towards how the theory actually does make sense.

Still life will make everything make sense you if set it up correctly. Don't pretend you can get by without it, there is a reason they force you to do it in college: it works.

[rapxic]

thanks alot you guys , i 'll definately have a go at this