What is a stroke? Features of shading with a pencil

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Quality lead drawing is a real work of art. In art schools, a lot of attention is paid to works made in pencil. Hatching is needed in order to give objects shape and volume. In second place is the drawing of light and shadow.

When using the technique, the emphasis should be on cross-hatching. The tone thus created gives an overall impression of purity. If you look closely at the drawings of professionals, you can see that even in the darkest place a sheet of paper is translucent.

Basic concepts in pencil hatching technique

Understanding what a stroke is and learning how to use this technique correctly in a drawing is not as difficult as it seems. To do this, you need to learn the basic concepts:

• Chiaroscuro. This phenomenon allows us to see objects in three dimensions.
• Glare - reflection of light on the surface of an object. Its intensity depends on the texture. Matte surfaces give less glare, glossy - more. There are materials on which glare is not visible. This is wood, stones, porous textures.
• Penumbra (half tone)- smooth transition between shadow and light.
• Reflex - an unsaturated light spot in a dark area. It is formed by rays reflected from nearby objects.
• Shadow - a dimly lit or completely unlit area of the drawing object. It can be own or falling. The darkest area is called the light section.

Dash - a line that can be long or short. It all depends on the task of the artist. Hatching can be applied in different directions. When one layer lies on another, the tonality of the picture is gradually gaining. The image gets interesting graininess

Hatching in a classic pencil drawing

Having figured out what a stroke is, let's move on to its types. The drawing uses straight and cross hatching. The first happens:

• horizontal;
• at an angle;
• vertical.

Cross hatching is applied from above to the straight line. Consider an example. First, a straight horizontal stroke is applied. Jerky lines at an angle are superimposed on top. Then a vertical stroke. This forms a beautiful mesh tone surface. Then we apply a stroke with an inclination in the opposite direction and again vertical lines.

The details of the picture that are in the foreground should be more clearly developed. Here, the contrasts of chiaroscuro are stronger. In the background, the drawing should be as if covered with a haze and move into an aerial perspective. Shape hatching is used forthe image of rounded objects, for example, balls, cones, cylinders. Lines emphasize the form, making it more expressive.

Alternative types of hatching

• The simplest pencil drawing technique is dot hatching, which is applied by lightly tapping the lead on the paper. The greater the number of dots, the richer the tone of the pattern.
• Zigzag hatching resembles hooks, commas, curls that are applied randomly.
• Sputtering technique. It looks like a pastel pencil drawing. Hatching is done with a cotton swab or napkin. A sharp knife removes slate chips that look like dust. A cotton swab or a piece of napkin is dipped there. The drawing is shaded on paper. The effect of working with pastels is achieved.

Hatching secrets

The principles by which hatching patterns are created:

• Hatching is done with separate lines. You can't draw with a "snake" without lifting your hand.
• Comma hatching is a common mistake for beginners. Try to keep the line straight. Many beginners do not immediately understand what a stroke is. The line should be lighter at the beginning and end, and more saturated in the middle.
• One of the beginner-friendly ways is to stroke from shadow to light. The surface of any object is illuminated unevenly. Start work from the darkest place in the figure. You need to move from the shadow to the lighter part of the object, gradually increasing the length of the stroke.

• Hatching should be done with a confident hand and quickmovements.
• During drawing, you need to turn the pencil in your fingers. Thus, the stylus will be wiped evenly. This will allow you to sharpen it less often.
• If the drawing is done on a horizontal surface, then you can not put your palm on the paper. You can accidentally rub the drawing with your hand and leave dirt on the sheet. The artist should learn to rely on the little finger when creating a drawing. Another option is to put a blank sheet of paper under your working hand.
• You need to consider the softness of the pencil. Information is always on the box. The harder the pencil, the more difficult it is to hatch.

To understand what a stroke is, and to master the technique of drawing with a pencil is possible only when more than one stack of paper has been damaged. Do not be afraid to draw the wrong line or go beyond the boundaries. Don't try to copy someone else's drawing style. Over time, you will develop an individual style of pencil drawing.