I know cross hatching is the classical technique for shading, but for the life of me I don't as yet have the patience for it... and at the age of 49 plus shipping and handling I doubt I'm ever going to get it.

My question - is cross hatching the only acceptable way to shade?

I'm still laughing, that is the first time I have heard age explained that way!
That's a good question.
Paulette

Well Rose, yes crosshatching is the basis of most shading, but there are other methods, some slower, some based on a blended version of crosshatching, some involve spreading graphite or charcoal with a brush or tortillon which speeds up the process a bit.

You can use circulism which is as it sounds, a series of tiny tiny circles which are applied with very light pressure that build up tone gradually. It is a very slow process but very effective when creating realistic skin tones. I did my daughter's portrait in the gallery using this method. Its not for the impatient.

Scumbling, which is a series of small circles, is one of the methods used to lay down even tones of pigment in coloured pencils and is a looser version of circulism.

You obviously need to get your graphite onto paper in some form to obtain the level of shading that is required. Whether you use straight cross hatching or a looser version of circles of lines or whether you blend the lines or circles is up to you and what effect you are after.

Here is a link to a tutorial on shading that may help. You should also practice creating a value scale using just different amounts of pressure from your pencil. Brenda has created a value scale lesson that you can use as a guide, but try out different techniques in your squares, using small circles to make a seamless tone without hatching. You should end up with an even tone in each square.

If none of this makes sense, let me know and I'll explain it in more detail for you.

Rose I cant get the hang of the cross hatching either .. i know its the best way but I just cant do it i have tried over and over .. and well I am 43 and not sure if i will ever get it either lol

its very hard for me to cross hatch to-- i have been practicing,
great tutorial- i search and search the web and have never found the tutorials that you find jeanette. that was great, more practicing. i do use a blending stick thing alot. but i have to be careful because it can mess up a drawing too.
Lori

Thank you all for your input.... and thanks Jeanette for your crystal clear explanation as always. The tutorial you pointed me to was very helpful and very illuminating.

My reasoning at the moment is that crosshatching is the pinnacle of perfection - something to strive for as a goal. But on the other hand not being able to do it now should not keep me from attempting to create effects in other simpler (and quicker ) ways. After all.. c'mon for heaven's sake I started drawing less than a fortnight ago!

So this will be my motto - practice, practice, practice... but in the meantime have fun too. enjoy the ride and let the spirit roam!

Great question Farfallina, I find crosshatching hard. Thankyou Islander for the link to shading.

As with most techniques that you can't master, my stubborn streak makes me try them until I figure them out.

Sometimes we don't pursue the drawing far enough for it to look good. We let the 'ugly stage' take over where we should persuade ourselves to continue on with the drawing and it will improve.

I'd like everyone to try a simple cube, light source on the left and shade it using just hatching. Then post your results. Remember you should use your strokes from the elbow, not the wrist, using light pressure and vary your direction to achieve different tones.

Do the same cube again using any form of shading that you like. Circulism, blending, whatever you like.

This way I can see what your problems are with hatching or shading and if I can help you get past those problems.

I love a woman who doesn't take no for an answer!!

Jeanette, thank you for the challenge and most especially thank you for the "from the elbow" hint. You know, that even made drawing a straight line fairly easier.

Below are my very poor attempts at the cube you suggested. First of all pardon me for using printer paper with a very heavy watermark!! ... but I guess this is just an exercise. And also I need to point out that the scanning is not all that hot .. the original looks a tiny bit better... even so both of them are rather untidy.

[attachmentid=1145]

So, the first I did with pretty close hatching and then blended with tissue paper wrapped round the finger.
The second is my crazy attempt at crosshatching!

So my problems are:

1. I find it extremely difficult to draw a straight line
2. I find it hard to use uniform pressure - so the result is uneven
3. Edges are also a problem.

Ok - now you go ahead and cut them to bits!

Rose! You fibber you! You CAN draw a straight line! You just proved it.

Drawing from the elbow or shoulder really does make a difference, using just you wrist gives tight lines and restricts your ability to create good lines - its works well with circles too.

The first cube looks great, the shading could be a little smoother, but you've got the right idea there.

The hatching looks fine too. I'd just suggest that you go a little darker in your tones. Change the direction of your lines and get them closer together. They can virtually touch and blend together on their own to achieve the shades that you want.

Rose, it does take practice to get the results you want ad it won't happen overnight, but it will happen.

1. You can draw a straight line. Your hatching shows that and you know if you draw from the elbow or shoulder that it helps. Try a whole page of nothing but straight lines. Its a fabulous exercise to loosen up with. Go one direction, then turn your page and draw in the opposite direction. It may seem silly to draw just lines, but it does help.

2. Uniform pressure takes practice too. Try creating a value scale. Make 10 one inch (or 1.5 cm) squares on your paper. Using just one pencil, create 10 different values, leaving the first square white then progressing the tones up the scale til you get the darkest shade that you can. It will take a few layers of graphite and some time and patience, but you will see what you can achieve with just pressure.

3. Edges don't exist. Only tones do. Look carefully at something in front of you. Do you see a sharp edge? No you don't. What you see is something that blends into the next shape or tone. This is what you want to achieve in your drawing too. Don't think of edges, think of light and shade. The edge of something is created by its position next to something of a different tone, not by a distinct line.

Thanks Jeanette.

I guess what i meant by edges were the edges of my cube - where it goes to white.

I suppose if I apply myself and really practice technical things every day I can improve. I should think of it as playing scales on a piano before trying to play a concerto!!

However i have something else to show you. I attempted Baldy Noears this afternoon... just hatching with no smudging. I think it turned out fairly well but I have no time to scan it now - we're going out to dinner and my husband is screaming my name!!

I will post it tomorrow though.

Thanks again.

Oh and BTW I suppose for cross hatching you need a very sharp pencil right - that makes uniform pressure even more important - one slip and you've had it!

Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth.......If you have trouble drawing a straight line.

Everytime you sit down to draw - before you even begin to draw you should make a straight line on all 4 sides of your paper - basically a box or frame to put your drawing into. It not only gives you a frame for your picture but by doing it every time you draw, it gives you practice in making straight lines.

I have been teaching the Senior Citizens to do this - only I tell them they have to make a double line for a frame so they get twice the practice.

The lines start out as being crooked but eventually they start straightening out. Its amazing.

Good idea Painter. Every bit of practice works! I use the page of lines every which way as a warm up exercise for my classes and it really does help.

Here's my Baldy Noears. Again the scanning is not so good but perhaps you can see my effort at shading with ony hatching and no additional blending.

[attachmentid=1167]

Painter - good discipline... I should take up the habit!!

This looks like pretty good graduated shading Rose. Well done!

Here is a link to a site that has some good tips.

http://www.geocities.com/~jlhagan/K9-14/introduction.htm

Here are my shading cubes and a box to show if I learned anything?? 2H pencil, in cheap sketch book.
Paulette[attachmentid=1175][attachmentid=1176][attachmentid=1177]

Rose - good job on the hatching! was that done in pencil or charcoal? I ask because it looks rough like charcoal.

Paulette - boy do I see improvement! you're coming right along - you really must be practicing! Good job.

Fab job on the cubes Paulette! On the last one, you could try darkening one of the planes of the box to show the light source more clearly. You've got the hatching down well, great stuff!

No Painter - that is pencil... the roughness is only in the scanning... the orginal looks much smoother. I have a feeling the scanner is a little put out of kilter by the "sheen" of the graphite and doesn't really reproduce the actual thing.

Paulette - nice job! I love the open box.

PeeWee - thank you for the link..very interesting site.

Jeanette - thank you so much for taking the time.

I've got another question about hatching technique.

When you're drawing hatching lines, should they be drawn individually, deliberately, and uniformly

or, as I do,

quickly and less uniform. I just kinda zip zip zip and fill in the area. I still control spacing and weight to get the shade I desire.

Rose nice job on the ball with eyes ...shading looks good .
paulette .. I love the box ..nice job .

Jeanette,
Here is my darkened box. I used a 2B and 4B pencil. Let me know what you think.

Thanks for the encouragement Painter, Farfallina, Kim and of course Jeanette.

Darus, I find it depends on the shape that I'm trying to fill as to the speed at which I can hatch. Larger areas take quicker strokes, smaller more detailed work I take my time and watch what I'm doing more.

Its very much an individual thing, and your hand guides you rather than your mind in many cases. It becomes intuitive to some degree with practice. Hatching does lend itself to fairly quick movements to make the lines, whether they are close together or farther apart.

Did you attached your adjusted box Paulette? I can't see it.

[attachmentid=1183]
sorry Jeanette
Paulette

Excellent work Paulette. It has more depth now that you've increased the tones.

You can place your lines closer together if you want a smoother effect for your darker values, but you have the right idea here. Good stuff!

Yes nice box ...funny how simple things around the house make for a interesting drawing .. that is why I love the thread life sketch .

Thank you Jeanette and Kim.
Paulette

The whole purpose of hatching is to create shade. I never hatch and manage to shade perfectly just by drawing the tone. Don't expect do this with any soft pencils only though.