How to shade the background with a pencil
Lesson number 1. Types of hatching.
Hatching
There must be gaps between the drawn lines. High-quality hatching of any fragment has approximately the same length of strokes, the distance between them and the slope. The strokes are clear, even, without rounding.
Michelangelo (fragment of the sketch "Madonna Tuddy")
Hatching that maintains the shape
Hatching that does not maintain shape
2. Cross
3. Contour
4. Spot
5. Random (zigzag)
Examples low-quality hatching:
Lesson #2 5 secrets of a beautiful stroke.
In this example, we will consider the features of beautiful hatching. + Video - Lesson.
Yudaev-Rachey Yuri, "Bananas"
In this example, we will consider the features of beautiful hatching.
5 principles of beautiful hatching:
First, a beautiful stroke is done with confident and quick movements. I already wrote about how to draw straight lines, they are needed not by themselves ("that's how great I can draw a straight line without a ruler!"), But as an element of a stroke. In the figure, these lines are very well read. To draw straight lines in this way, you need to hold the pencil correctly. Lines drawn by a trembling uncertain hand are unlikely to look impressive)
Tone is developed by cross-hatching, increased pressure and more frequent strokes. But first of all, it is important to cross the lines - look, even in the darkest place, paper shines through the shading. This gives general impression purity.
Shading is not used. I'm not saying that you can't shade at all. You can’t mix cross-hatching and shading in one drawing, if you grind it, then the whole drawing. Because when graphite is smeared in only a few places, it seems as if this is a consequence of general sloppiness. This happens, for example, when, during hatching, the hand travels over the paper and rubs ready-made areas - it is difficult to get rid of these spots later. It is easier to avoid them by placing a clean piece of paper under your arm.
The stroke is superimposed in accordance with the form. For example, the figure shows that bananas lie on a horizontal plane, and behind them is a vertical plane. If the horizontal plane is hatched vertical lines, she will rear up) Which, in general, partly happened in the lower right corner of the picture.
The most carefully worked out is what is in the foreground - there are the strongest contrasts of chiaroscuro. In the distance, the tonal transitions are smoother, everything seems to be shrouded in haze - this is how the aerial perspective is shown.
And most importantly, there is no need to be afraid to draw the line incorrectly, step outside the border, etc. Otherwise, you will feel constrained, and this feeling will certainly be transmitted to the viewer (if you decide to show someone a tortured drawing). To get it right, you need to draw WITH PLEASURE and think less about the result).
Lesson number 3. Practical part.
Hatching can seem complicated. However, the correct shading in itself is never simple, it has been worked out for years, and it can become the personal handwriting of the master.
Tonal shading.
Draw a simple rectangle and try to shade it evenly using only one angle. Strokes should be light. Your strokes should begin smoothly and then also smoothly fade away. At the same time, the wrist should work very well, performing swings like a conductor’s hand, and not fingers.
1)
Why start learning to draw first with a pencil? Not because it is a cheap material, but because in b / w color errors are most noticeable.
2)
Before drawing an object, still life or portrait, lay out the layout from the lightest to the darkest. At the first stage, you can number and determine in the figure where which color will be.
3) We shade not with one movement, but with several, tear off the pencil from the paper.
4) The stroke is applied according to the shape of the object.
5) some artists start drawing from the lightest places, but they are overwritten in the process of drawing, even if you hold the pencil correctly. I usually start hatching from the darkest places.
6) It's a bad habit to draw everything separately. This problem is common among many and it must be eliminated. That is, a person first draws one flower, then another petal, and after a couple of days everything else. And in general we get broken drawing. Everything must be drawn evenly, without focusing on one object. Draw holistically, starting from the background, let it be light at the first stage, you will always have time to darken. And move on.
7) Do not try to immediately darken the work with one stroke. Apply it gradually layer by layer. Stroke in different directions, but not criss-cross.
Continuous Hatch:
For best practice, do more continuous and gradual darkening from light to dark and vice versa. Hatching in different directions in this case will help to convey the gradient more evenly. First use one medium soft pencil, see how it turns out. if the tone is not enough, then connect pencils of greater softness. In no case do not use shading with fingers or other special shading. Instead, try to make the shading multi-layered with different pressure on the stylus.
When training your hands, make sure that the shading is uniform and the lines are smoother. Exercise as much as possible, in free evenings or on weekends.
Many beginners in drawing often face the problem of incorrect hatching. In fact, very little attention is paid to this in drawing books, although these are the basics. I have collected materials pencil hatching from various sources: textbooks, video tutorials and articles from the Internet, and tried to combine them into one article. First we will discuss the theory, and then we will do 2 practical tasks to consolidate the material.
What is shading for?
Hatching is necessary in order to give the drawn objects a shape, to indicate how light and shadow fall, to give texture to objects. If you comply basic principles of pencil hatching, you can draw any 3D objects.
Basic principles of pencil shading
Not right - Cannot mix crosshatch and feather. You should not mix these two techniques in one work, because. feathering in some areas can create a feeling of sloppiness, as if you accidentally smeared part of the drawing with your hand. If you are using feathering, then you should feather the entire drawing.
- Foreground and background. Work more closely on the foreground subjects, while the background can be quickly traced with the side of the stylus to show the lighting and overall tone. The hatching of a vertical background is hatched vertically, the horizontal background is hatched horizontally.
- Make short strokes. Do not try to shade a long section from top to bottom at once if you have big square. Choose the stroke module that suits you.
- The more layers, the smoother the hatching. If you are shading some white objects, then be sure to take a harder pencil. It is better to make more layers with a harder pencil than less with softer, so it will be neater.
Now consider the main mistakes in pencil hatching:
- Hatching along the same lines.
Hatch should be in such a way that the seam is in the middle of the next layer. Do not try to shade a long section at once. The more layers of hatching, the smoother it will be. Do more layers with a hard pencil. It's better to make more layers with a harder pencil than less with a softer one, because it will be neater.
Practice Exercise #1
Practice Exercise #2
Now try this exercise: take the simplest object (pencil, tube of toothpaste, etc.) and try to draw it as accurately as possible, applying the basic principles that we have discussed. Better to draw from nature.
At the end of the article, I want to advise you to watch a couple of videos that will help you understand what the correct hatching looks like visually with examples and how you can correct mistakes.
How to sharpen pencils and do hatching:
The main mistakes in pencil hatching and how to fix them:
I hope this article was helpful to you. Perhaps I did not take into account all the basics of hatching, so I will be glad for your additions and comments. Write comments!
On the course that I am currently conducting, a question arose "How to learn to hatch beautifully?" I think this is interesting not only for course participants, so I post the answer here)
The discussion started with this picture:
Yudaev-Rachey Yuri, "Bananas"
In this example, we will consider the features of beautiful hatching.
5 principles of beautiful hatching:
- First, a beautiful stroke is done with confident and quick movements. I already wrote about how to draw, they are needed not by themselves (“that's how great I can draw a straight line without a ruler!”), But as an element of a stroke. In the figure, these lines are very well read. To draw straight lines in this way, you need. Lines drawn by a trembling uncertain hand are unlikely to look impressive)
- Tone is developed by cross-hatching, increased pressure and more frequent strokes. But first of all, it is important to cross the lines - look, even in the darkest place, paper shines through the shading. This gives an overall impression of cleanliness.
- Shading is not used. I'm not saying that you can't shade at all. You can’t mix cross-hatching and shading in one drawing, if you grind it, then the whole drawing. Because when graphite is smeared in only a few places, it seems as if this is a consequence of general sloppiness. This happens, for example, when, during hatching, the hand travels over the paper and rubs ready-made areas - it is difficult to get rid of these spots later. It is easier to avoid them by placing a clean piece of paper under your arm.
- The stroke is superimposed in accordance with the form. For example, the figure shows that bananas lie on a horizontal plane, and behind them is a vertical plane. If you hatch a horizontal plane with vertical lines, it will rear up) Which, in general, partly happened in the lower right corner of the picture.
- The most carefully worked out is what is in the foreground - there are the strongest contrasts. In the distance, the tonal transitions are smoother, everything seems to be shrouded in haze - this is how the aerial perspective is shown.
And most importantly, there is no need to be afraid to draw the line incorrectly, step outside the border, etc. Otherwise, you will feel constrained, and this feeling will certainly be transmitted to the viewer (if you decide to show someone a tortured drawing). To get it right, you need to draw WITH PLEASURE and think less about the result).
Another important note: the features of shading largely depend on the character of the person and temperament. It's like handwriting. Therefore, do not be discouraged if your hatching style differs from that of other artists, and compare your drawings only with your own!
The ability to draw is a great skill that can come in handy in many situations, and even become a main profession. To master it, you need to master a lot of techniques. In the drawing, the main criteria are construction and shading. However, if the first one is not so difficult to learn, then the academic touch is developed over the years. To simplify the task, we will tell you about the secrets and types of applying tones.
Types of pencils
Before you start applying tones to paper, you need to learn how to identify the type of pencil you are using. This is of great importance, since the tonality of the entire work depends on the hardness of your material.
Initially, it is recommended to use the hardest lead you have in your arsenal. Such a drawing will turn out less dirty and more elaborate. If you already have experience in graphics, then you can safely experiment with materials.
Different countries have their own marking, here are the most popular ones:
- Russia. This country is characterized by 3 types of pencils: T - hard; TM - hard-soft; M - soft. The number in front of the letter indicates the degree of hardness or softness.
- Europe. More varied spectrum: B - soft; H - solid; F - something between H and HB; HB - hard-soft. There are also numbers before letters (from 9H to 9B).
- USA. It has the following scale: #1 - soft; #2 - hard-soft; #3 - hard; #4 - very hard.
What material to choose for the drawing is up to you. However, there are a number of necessary criteria that must be met during preparation and during the period of work.
- The pencil must always be sharp. This important point for finer and finer lines. It should be sharpened not with a sharpener, but with a cutter, since the length of the tip should be 5-7 mm.
- Try to keep track of your tools. The lead is a very fragile thing. With any unsuccessful fall, it can break from the inside. In this case, feel free to throw it away.
- Regardless of the type of hatching, hold the pencil at a 45 degree angle.
- It is advisable to take a solid tool to start working on the drawing. Lightening dark areas is much more difficult than darkening light areas. At the end, you can add softer material.
Types of work
It is worth understanding the types of work with a pencil. There are only 2 of them: shading and hatching.
Shading - the stylus is rubbed on paper. This option is very rarely used by professionals, but actively practiced by amateurs. It is mainly used for plein airs or sketches in a notebook, when there is no time for careful study, but you need to show light and shadow.
Hatching is a way of applying light and shadow using separate strokes. Unlike the previous type, can be used various materials: pen, liner, marker, pen, felt-tip pen, etc. More often used for full-scale work. To develop different types of shading with a pencil, a sufficient amount of time is required. Perhaps several years.
Each artist has his own individual style. Therefore, it makes no sense to judge all varieties. However, there are 2 main sections:
- Decorative technique - used for graphics with ink, liner and other materials. Here you can use various patterns: zigzags, waves, figure eights, circles, etc. You can choose any element, it depends on your imagination. Often used to work with decorative productions or in sketches.
- The academic touch is exactly what artists learn throughout their lives. The main type of application of shades on paper. It can be used in all works, with any material (most often a pencil). It is straight or slightly curved lines.
Rules for applying an academic stroke
As already noted, each person has his own style, but regardless of your personality, there is a certain set of rules that must be observed to obtain the desired effect:
- Hatch objects in shape. This means that sometimes it is worth neglecting the straightness of the line in order to show volume. Strokes must match the outline of the object. For example, if you are drawing a ball, then the lines should go in a circle, not horizontally. This applies to absolutely any subject.
- Start from the shadow and gradually move to the light. Light areas can always be darkened, but dark areas are not so easy to lighten. Gradually apply color to the entire surface, then add pigment to the darkened part. At the end you can use soft pencil, if you feel that the shadow is not visible enough.
- You can use the cross technique. In this case, you need to make a slope between the lines. Lines lie crosswise, this is one of the types of hatching in graphics.
- Clean lines (opposite of the cross way) - next way. Different hatching has different requirements, here, on the contrary, the lines should be parallel. Don't forget to take your hand off the paper.
- Don't mix different types(stroke with ink).
- Foreground and background. Will always be in the background lighter tone than on the front. This is called aerial perspective. Remember this rule, it is almost fundamental in drawing.
- Make short hand movements. So it will be easier for you to apply and track the desired tone.
decorative touch
If you use it in sketches, then it does not matter how and where you apply it. The most optimal way to use circles, the easiest and fastest way to add tonality. The most commonly used pencil.
With decorative staging, you can give free rein to your imagination. Lead is rarely used here, more often ink, pen or liner. You can choose any convenient and suitable material. As for the drawing, circles are the most versatile option, only, unlike the sketch, here they need to be applied more accurately. For originality, you can use any other drawing, but keep in mind that it should not come to the fore, the subject is still a priority, and only then its texture. Don't forget about aerial perspective and transition from light to shadow.
In order to correctly apply any of the styles or types of pencil strokes, you need to not only adhere to the basic rules, but constantly improve. How to do it? Here are a couple of tips to help you get closer to the ideal in this art:
- Make confident moves. There should be small gaps between the lines, even in dark parts. Thus, you emphasize the difference between your technique and shading.
- Dark tones are best done with a cross stroke, with increased pressure on the pencil (the main thing here is not to overdo it) and adding large layers. All this will create the impression of cleanliness and accuracy, and these criteria are the most important.
- Try to keep your hand upright and not lean against the paper. This can accidentally smear already finished elements and create a shading effect. And as we remember from the rules, different types cannot be combined.
- In the foreground, even the brightest places should be worked out. This does not mean that they need to be darkened, but they need to be closed with a beautiful, almost imperceptible stroke. This will give the impression of a finished work.
Handwriting of great artists
Here are collected different types of shading of the great masters. This example shows how unique each person is. Through the art of applying tone to paper, one can trace the character and mood of the author.
Albrecht Durer. "Melancholy". One of the most mysterious paintings, there are many rumors about its meaning. However, we will pay attention to the stroke, how different it is on different subjects. The artist chose exactly the texture that is characteristic of a separate material.
Hans Holbein the Younger. From the series of engravings "Dance of Death". Here is a good example of decorative hatching.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. "Three crucifixes". The author chose a dark tonality for the picture, but withstood the proportions of light and shadow.
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. "Self Portrait with Wide Eyes" Pay attention to an interesting sketch stroke that only emphasizes the mood of the whole drawing.
In contrast to the previous image. Another portrait, but with softer transitions, conveying deep age and gray hair. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. " Old man with a wavy beard.
Conclusion
There is a huge variety of styles and types of hatching in the drawing. In order to master them, you need to constantly practice. And some reference materials can help you with this. With a strong desire, the art of a pencil can be mastered at home, you just need a little desire and patience. Good luck in your work!
The basics of the basics of a drawing are lines and strokes. The lines in the drawing form the contour of objects, and the strokes form their tonality, creating the illusion of chiaroscuro, volume and space. Now let's take a closer look at the concepts.
Line
A line is a straight line, a broken line, or a curve that has no conventional thickness. For example, an elongated rectangle is not a line. However, if its length is many times greater than its width, then it can be considered a line. In a drawing, a line is capable of displaying the visible contours of an object, creating a sense of volume, creating the illusion of spatiality and emphasizing the most contrasting areas. This is achieved due to the nature of the line: its shape, thickness and saturation.
Hatch
A stroke is a line that forms the visual volume of an object and the space around it in a drawing. In a classical (academic) drawing, strokes are applied according to the shape of the depicted objects. Many ordered strokes form the tone in the drawing.
Tone is a chiaroscuro gradation. It is the tone that makes it possible to display in the drawing the light falling on objects and the shadows they cast, as well as to indicate the degree of lightness or darkness of objects. The tone in the drawing is formed with the help of strokes and other artistic and graphic means.
line drawing
Straight line
It would seem that it is difficult to draw regular line. However, pick up a pencil and paper and try to draw a long, perfectly straight line. Happened? Maybe yes. But, if you look closely, it turns out that the line has irregularities.
Square
Take a pencil and paper and draw a square by hand. When drawing a square, keep the lines even, the exact ratio of the sides and the angle of inclination between them at 90 degrees. Draw...
Triangle
draw equilateral triangle. Try to draw exactly an equilateral triangle with the same sides and angles between them. Pay attention also to the evenness of the lines. Draw...
A circle
Everyone at school drew circles using a compass. Now the task is to draw a circle by hand only with a pencil. Remember that due to certain human characteristics, when drawing a circle by hand, it often turns out to be elongated. Try to make the circle less "shaggy", that is, it consists of as few strokes as possible, as close as possible to each other. Draw...
academic touch
AT academic drawing It is customary to hatch objects according to their shape. Let's try to shade the square in this way. In the square, draw a straight horizontal line just below its top edge, then another one with a very small interval relative to it, and so draw lines to the bottom edge of the square. When finished, you will have a square completely filled with closely spaced horizontal lines. If you move the drawing away from you and squint, it turns out that the square has acquired gray shade. This is how tone is formed using hatching in a classic drawing. Draw...
free stroke
Most in modern figure free not apply academic shading. Let's master it using the example of shading a triangle. Inside the triangle, without lifting the pencil from the sheet of paper, draw diagonal (parallel to each other) lines from one edge of the triangle to the other until the entire triangle is filled. In this type of shading, the strokes do not fit in the shape of the object, but are placed at an angle convenient for the artist. It is important to create a tonal spot with the help of strokes, which will indicate the shadow or degree of darkness of the object. Draw...
Shading a circle
Let's shade the circle in two ways, academic and free. Let's start with the academic shading of the circle. In the lower left part of the circle, we apply strokes in a circular motion. First with a small distance between the strokes, then gradually increasing the interval. The strokes should repeat the shape of the circle in which they are inscribed. If everything is done correctly, then visually the circle will look like a ball. Draw...
Now let's shade the circle in a free style. Strokes apply diagonally at any convenient angle. The main thing is that the strokes should be parallel to each other. Draw...
Summary
Let's summarize the above. The line is the basis of any image. Single lines can represent the contours of objects. If draw a large number of lines located in parallel close to each other, they will form a tonal spot. In fact, such an arrangement of lines in drawings is considered hatching. Having dealt with the importance of the line in the drawing, you can proceed to more interesting topics: laws of perspective and chiaroscuro.
