In order for blending to work well, an artist must be very skilled at rendering graduated values. After all, there has to be something to blend. This lesson provides guidance for properly adding shading to graphite drawings prior to blending, discusses the process of blending, and introduces various blending tools and methods.

Preview lesson J02 - To Blend or Not to Blend

Good material !!

There is a reference about Q-2 (example). It would be nice if in the lessons there was a Q-2.

A very good lesson, I can't blend at this stage because the whole page gets messy.

A good guide and a fine example of what can be done with pencils, let's not forget that in drawing, just as much as in painting anything goes as long that we pass a strong message, transmit a concept or stimulate the imagination of a viewer, not fix rules, only some guideline in the various ways to proceed, between the intention and the final result is the canvass or the piece of paper or whatever the material used, so we keep all this in mind but what remains more important is the way we think about what we set ourself to do, how do we feel about it, and the more passionate we are about what we do and the more likely others will as well once able to see it. We never look for what we want to express while drawing or painting we find what we feel while doing it and the technical aspect of it is hardly in the mind, much like we do not think how we ride a bike, we just ride it and enjoy the ride.

A very valuable lesson(indeed all the lessons in this site),one can learn her in ashort time thanks for adminstrator.

I think it's getting better & scanning realy does help identify what needs touching up.

Hey guys, new to the site, I LOVE that tutorial it is great! I am working on some still lifes and I can't wait to apply some of the stuff from this site to my work!

Very good lesson

before i did not know how 2 shade that well (write back to adri)

Good lesson. The part about the different blending products available is useful.

[font="Comic Sans MS"][/font][size="2"][/size]I found the lesson very basic. I did not agree with the comment on blending and using it in portraits. I find blending to bring a very realistic look to portraits. I find Lee Hammond's approach very easy to learn and use. I have several of her books and love her approach.Click to view attachment

useful i enjoyed it alot.

Hi Have just bought your book "The Idiots Guide to Drawing People". Your book is amazing albeit abit intimidating when it comes the shading, tonal values, hatching etc. I can draw using the grid system and can paint from it (in oils) but would love to be able to just draw free hand. Does the book cover almost exactly what you have on your website. I live in Botswana so there are no courses available. I going to start your book tomorrow. Cant wait. You are amazing. Beeps