SEEING VALUES This value scale shows the gradation from black—the darkest value— through various shades of gray, ending with white—the lightest value.
The key to transforming flat, simple shapes into convincing, lifelike forms is employing a variety of shading techniques. Shade with soft strokes to create lighter tones, or put more pressure on your pencil and shade with heavy strokes to create darker tones. These contrasts in value (the relative lightness or darkness of a color or of black) are what give depth and form to your drawings. Once you’ve established the basic shape of your subject, try using the shading techniques in this section to apply dark and light values to your drawings—and watch your subjects come to life on paper!
Separating the dark values of your shading from the light areas and highlights of your drawing helps produce a sense of depth and volume. When creating highlights, you can either “save” the white of the paper by leaving areas of the paper white, or you can “retrieve” highlights by pulling out the value—removing graphite from the paper using the edge of a kneaded eraser that has been formed to a point. Value tells us more about a form than its outline does, so use a variety of techniques to create a range of shades and highlights.
SEEING VALUES This value scale shows the gradation from black—the darkest value— through various shades of gray, ending with white—the lightest value.
SHADING TO CREATE FORM When objects are viewed straight on, shading must be added to create the illusion of depth. The plain circle to the left is simply a flat disk; but adding shading gives it form, creating a three-dimensional sphere.
By studying the basic shading techniques in this section, you can learn to render everything from a smooth complexion and straight hair to shadowed features and simple backgrounds. Whatever techniques you use, though, remember to shade evenly. Shading in a mechanical side-to-side direction, with each stroke ending below the last, can create unwanted bands of tone throughout the shaded area. Instead try shading evenly, in a back-and-forth motion over the same area, varying the spot where the pencil point changes direction.
HATCHING Hatching is a shading technique in which you make a series of parallel strokes placed closely together.
CROSS-HATCHING Cross-hatching is a shading technique in which you make a series of crisscrossed hatching strokes.
GRADATING To create graduated values (from dark to light), apply heavy pressure with the side of your pencil, gradually lightening the pressure as you stroke.
BLENDING To smooth out the transitions between strokes and create a dark, solid tone, gently rub the lines with a blending stump or tissue.
EXPERIMENTING WITH STROKES
Learning to draw requires a certain amount of control and precision, so get used to the feel of a pencil in your hand and the kinds of strokes you can achieve. Before you begin sketching, experiment with different pencil grips to see how they affect the lines you produce. Fine detail work is more easily accomplished with a sharp pencil held as though you were writing, whereas shading is best done with the side of your pencil, holding it in an underhand position. Practice holding the pencil underhand, overhand, and in a writing position to see the different lines you can create.
You can also vary your strokes by experimenting with the sharpness or dullness of your pencil points. A sharp point is good for keeping your drawings detailed and refined; the harder the lead, the longer your pencil point remains sharp and clean. A flat point or chisel point is helpful for creating a wider stroke, which can quickly fill larger areas. Create a flat or chisel point by rubbing the sides of a pencil on a sandpaper block or even on a separate sheet of paper.
