RS102 Hatching Techniques for Realistic Subjects

With Brenda Hoddinott

6 weeks   Shading 4

Hatching is a must-have technique that should be part of the shading repertoire of all artists!

Hatching emerged in Western art in the Middle Ages. During the Renaissance, hatching gained popularity not only in drawing but also in engraving and woodcutting for prints. Leonardo da Vinci, Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, and Francisco Goya were masters of diverse hatching techniques.

One of hatching's greatest attributes is the speed with which sketches can be rendered with a full range of values. Many artists use hatching to quickly and efficiently add shading to realistic sketches when working from life. Hatching can also achieve the solid values and smooth graduations required for highly-detailed photorealistic and hyperrealistic drawings.

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