Hey there! Looks so cool! :D First of all, I recommend using a gray background and avoiding completely white backgrounds. This will give you better control over your values. Now, keep in mind where your light source is located. The direction of the light rays—and therefore the shapes of the light and shadows—will depend on that. When painting, try to aim for interesting light shapes. Not everything needs to be fully illuminated. Many artists often apply what’s sometimes called the egg concept: the top part is lit while the bottom part remains in shadow. Think about which planes are exposed to the light so you can determine what should be in shadow. It’s helpful to think in terms of simple forms like boxes and cylinders for this. I made two examples to show two different scenarios: one with a 3/4 front light, and another with a 3/4 back light. Also, pay attention to the color temperature in both the lights and the shadows. In the example on the right, since the lighting is warmer, the reds shift closer toward oranges, while the hues in the shadows move more toward lilacs or purples. In the other example, the light tones are cooler and slightly desaturated, while the shadows remain more neutral, which makes them appear relatively warmer by comparison. Hope this helps!
