Resource:
Module 3.1 Introduction to Shading
Supplies:
paper, 2H, HB, 2B, and 4B pencils, pencil sharpener, sandpaper block, vinyl and kneaded erasers
This activity has three sections:
Examine Striped Fur
Outline Shading Guidelines
Shade Light and Dark Stripes
ArtSpeak
Texture: The surface details of an object that can be identified by sight, touch, and/or a general knowledge of the subject.
Pattern: The visual arrangement of the different values of a drawing subject as represented by lines and/or shading.
Tip!
You can create different values with hatching by:
- varying the density (placing lines either far apart or close together) of the individual hatching lines.
- varying the pressure you use to hold your pencils.
- using different grades of pencils from hard to soft to help with the different values.
Tip!
Drawing believable textures and patterns on fabrics is integral to accurately rendering a clothed figure.
Fashions may come and go, but the basic forms of human figures remain constant.
Examine Striped Fur
When you draw fuzzy stripes, you need to define both the pattern and the texture.
1. Examine the drawing of striped fur in Figure 1 and note the following:
- Some hatching lines extend beyond the border of each stripe to create a jagged, natural looking transition of values.
- The hatching lines are curved, unevenly spaced, and of many different lengths and thicknesses.
- The transition between the light and dark values is compacted into very short distances.
Outline Shading Guidelines
2. Use a 2H pencil to lightly sketch three curved vertical lines with two horizontal straight lines that cut across them (Figure 2).
The horizontal lines mark where the stripes change from light to dark and from dark to light.
The three curved guidelines show you the directionality of the hatching lines.
3. Use a kneaded eraser to lighten the horizontal guidelines until they are barely visible.
You don't really need to lighten the curved vertical lines; they will blend in with the furry texture.
Caution!
Fur that is rendered with straight lines tends to look very flat and unnatural (unless your subject is a faux-fur rug on the floor).
Only curved lines can define the fur that covers the various anatomical forms of an animal.
Shade Light and Dark Stripes
4. Use a 2H or HB pencil to add curved hatching lines to the upper light stripe (Figure 3).
The hatching lines follow the curves of the vertical guidelines and extend slightly below the upper horizontal guideline.
5. Use 2B and/or 4B pencils to sketch raggedy hatching lines to represent the upper half of the dark stripe (Figure 4).
This fur begins slightly above the upper horizontal guideline.
Note how the transitional section between the dark and light values is jagged and uneven with curved hatching lines of various lengths.
Remember to follow the curves of the vertical guidelines!
Tip!
Use only sharpened pencils to draw fur. Otherwise, the furry texture may not look realistic.
6. Extend the dark hatching lines downward to slightly below the lower horizontal guideline (Figure 5).
7. Use 2H and/or HB pencils to add hatching to the lower light stripe. (Figure 6).
Tip!
Touching up sections of fur that are too dark or too light is super simple!
To lighten a section, mold your kneaded eraser to a thin wedge and gently pat a few of the darkest hatching lines.
To darken a section, add more hatching lines in between some of the others.