Drawing Techniques

Drawing is defined as a graphic representation by lines or stokes of an object or idea. In drawing artist applies various drawing techniques to achieve their desire results; Crosshatching, Hatching, Smooth Shading, Contour Lines, and Stippling. Some common drawing media includes Chalk Pastel, Charcoal, Colored Pencil, Conté crayon, Graphite and Graphite Pencils, Marker, Oil pastel, and Pen and Ink. These media are used alone or in combinations to reach the artist aimed effect.

Crosshatching is a process of using parallel lines and perpendicular lines to create different tones. This technique uses crosshatching in two or more different directions to create darker tones, textures or shades. Broken crosshatching, or lines with intermittent breaks, is used to form lighter tones, and by controlling the density of the breaks a graduation of tone can be achieved.

Hatching is a process of using groups of parallel lines to create different tones. This technique uses hatching in smaller groups closer together to create darker tones, textures or shades. Hatching with periodic breaks, is used to form lighter tones, and by controlling the range of the breaks an array of tones can be achieved.

Smooth Shading is the process of applying continuous tone, different pencil hardness, and varying your pressure gradually to create tones, textures, and shades. This technique uses more pressure and softer pencils to create darker tones, textures or shades. Smooth shading with a harder pencil and less pressure will achieved lighter tones, textures, and shades. This technique allows an artist to accomplish more realistic shades, and allows for an ultimate scope of tonal values with the highest degree of accuracy.

Contour Lines are a process of giving tones, texture and shades by using lines. This technique allows an artist to use contour lines to follow the shape of the subject. It uses more lines closer together to create a dark tone. Contour Lines uses break between the lines to give the tone a lighter texture. Contour lines technique gives the piece of art more texture then the smooth shading, but it is less realistic in the tones and shades.

Stippling is the process of using uses dots to produce tone, texture or shade. This technique uses dots of different sizes to create different tones, textures or shades. The closer the groups of dots are the darker the tone. The smaller and broken apart the groups are the lighter the tone, and by controlling the size and distance between the dots a greater an array of tones can be obtained.

These drawing techniques can be used alone or in combinations to achieve a desire effect. Some piece use a mixture of techniques to give the piece a different texture or focus the viewer to the main subject of the piece of art.

In future articles will be discussed each drawing techniques and how they are applied to their subject to reach the desired result.