Shading+Techniques

=Shading Techniques=

There is a large variety of ways to shade an object. Some artists prefer one way and others prefer another way. What you choose to do is up to personal preference and what you are aiming to achieve. What I have here is a range of different techniques you can use, and an explanation of how to achieve said technique and any tips I know about. All the examples will have a value scale, at the top and a gradiation scale at the bottom. You can see each individual value at the top, and a nice smooth blend at the bottom.



The hatch is the most basic type of shading technique you can use. It involves lines going in one direction and one direction only. You have to build it up to get it darker, so don't start pushing harder on the pencil. All you will get is a shiny surface that will not take anymore graphite and even if you erase it, the spot on the paper won't be the same. You flatten all the ridges in the paper that grab the graphite. A completely smooth surface won't take graphite, it needs crevices and ridges. Usually, the paper will feel smooth to the touch, but the crevices and ridges are just too tiny to see. So, use layers, no pressure.



This is another basic way of shading. It's similar to the hatching, but you can have the lines going in any direction you want. Same as before, layers, no pressure.



This is my personal favourite way of shading, but it can be a bit time consuming, depending on how you do it. The irregular line works off how much white is showing through the scribbles. The more white, the lighter it appears. You can use large scribles that crover a large area, or small, tight scribbles for a more delicate feeling. Both of them look quite interesting and give a nice affect to a drawing. Again, layer the graphite, don't push on the pencil.



This is a good technique for covering a large area of paper. Gently apply graphite to the paper, and using either a piece of kleenex or a smudging stump, just smudge the graphite around. Don't use your fingers. They have oils on them that can ruin a project. The oils like to make the spots that will never erase. Remeber to make the pencil lines smooth. Layer, don't push. Otherwise your lines will not smudge and you will be able to see them. While blending is good for covering a large area, I find it does not have that much texture, other than smooth. Add some hatching or cross hatching to add some texture to it.