Get the Point of Shading Values

By Brenda Hoddinott

Use five grades of pencils and three pencil points to create a reference guide of values and textures

Supplies: drawing paper with a medium tooth, graphite pencils (2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B), pencil sharpener, sandpaper block

Resource: 1.1.A8 Experiment with Pencil Points

This activity has four sections:

  • Outline Drawing Spaces
  • Shade Five Values with a Sharp Point
  • Shade Five Values with a Rounded Point
  • Shade Five Values with a Chisel Point

ArtSpeak

Drawing space: The specific perimeter in which a drawing is rendered.

Landscape format: (also called horizontal format) A rectangular drawing space with the two longer sides at the top and bottom.

Chisel point: (also called flat point) A versatile shape on the working end of a pencil that has both a sharp edge and a flat, angled surface.

Rounded Point: A smooth, rounded tip on the working end of a pencil, usually created with a sandpaper block.

Sharp Point: A pointed tip on the working end of a pencil that is usually created with a pencil sharpener and/or sandpaper block.

Hatching: A series of lines (called a set) drawn closely together to give the illusion of values.

Outline Drawing Spaces

1. Use a ruler and an HB pencil to lightly outline a 5 by 3 in (12.7 by 7.6 cm) rectangle with a landscape format (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Figure 1

2. Use a ruler to measure and then mark four dots, 1 in (2.54 cm) apart, along each horizontal side of the rectangle.

Measure each distance from left to right so the dots line up vertically.

3. Measure and mark two dots, 1 in (2.54 cm) apart, along each vertical side of the rectangle.

4. Use a ruler to connect dots that are opposite one another along the sides of the rectangle.

You now have 15 square drawing spaces in which you can shade your values/textures. To help you stay on track as you shade, refer to Figure 1 and mark the:

  • grade of each pencil above its column.
  • name of each type of pencil point to the left of its row.

ArtSpeak

Texture: The surface details of an object that can be identified by sight, touch, and/or a general knowledge of the subject.

Values: (also called tones) The various shades of gray in an artwork. A broad range of values is achieved by using different grades of pencils, and by varying the density of the shading lines and the pressure used on the pencil.

Caution!

Make sure you use the same amount of pressure on each of your pencils to create the 15 values.

Otherwise, you might not end up with a range of different values/textures.

Shade Five Values with a Sharp Point

1. Use a pencil sharpener to sharpen a 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencil to a sharp point (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Figure 2

2. Use a 2H pencil to draw a set of straight hatching lines in the upper-left square (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Figure 3

3. Use an HB 2B, 4B, and 6B pencil in turn to continue shading the other four squares in this row (Figure 4).

The first row now has five different values created with sharp pencil points.

Figure 4

Figure 4

Shade Five Values with a Rounded Point

1. Sharpen a 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencil to a rounded point (Figure 5).

Figure 5

Figure 5

2. Use a rounded point and the same process used in the previous section to hatch five values in the second row (Figure 6).

The second row now has five different values created with rounded points.

Figure 6

Figure 6

Shade Five Values with a Chisel Point

1. Use a sandpaper block to create a flat edge on a 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencil (Figure 7).

Figure 7

Figure 7

2. Use a chisel point and the same process to hatch five values in the third row (Figure 8).

You now have a total of 15 values.

Figure 8

Figure 8

Challenge!

Step back from your drawing a little and compare each row to the others. Identify the row with the:

1. darkest overall values.

2. lightest overall values.

3. smoothest textures (suitable for shading a flat, smooth surface)

4. roughest textures (suitable for shading a slightly bumpy or uneven surface).

Did you identify a row with each value or texture?

  • If your answer is no: try this activity again.
  • If (or When) your answer is yes: you have successfully created a reference guide for shading the values and textures of a broad range of different drawing subjects.

Tip!

A difference in values occurs when a pencil point causes more or less white paper to show through your shading.

Sharp point: has a tiny tip, which deposits graphite both on top of the bumps and deep into the crevasses of the paper.

Rounded point: has a medium-sized tip, which deposits graphite on top of the bumps and into only the larger crevasses.

Chisel point: has a broad flat tip, which deposits graphite on top of the bumps and into only a few of the largest crevasses.