Rendering light and dark skin with hatching/cross hatching - Help needed

[Rabbi Satan]

Heya there CA.org,

I'm at the stage of drawing the human form where I'm now trying to differentiate between light skinned figures and their darker compatriots.

I think that I can render dark skinned figures well enough, all it takes is to cover the entire figure in hatchet and cross hatchet lines, with less hatchets in areas where there are highlights, but when it comes to rendering light skinned figures, I start to have problems.

I'll take Gloominati's example here:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23936&stc=1&d=1158420121

And here:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=31265&stc=1&d=1159886152

Gloominati seems to be able to render the entire figure with hatchet lines, and give the effect/illusion that the figure has light skin. I've tried to replicate this, but in the end my figures look like they have dark skin. Can anyone help me here?

Thanks in advance :)

[FourTonMantis]

Take a closer look at those two drawings. Notice how in the darker areas, the lines are closer; in the lighter areas, the lines are further apart.

[Rabbi Satan]

Take a closer look at those two drawings. Notice how in the darker areas, the lines are closer; in the lighter areas, the lines are further apart.

Thanks for taking the time to reply Mantis :)

As for what you've said, I already am aware of that - but even then, when I put more distance between the lines in the lighter areas, my figure still looks like a dark skinned figure instead of white.

One more thing - I am currently rendering in 0.5mm mechanical pencils - is this advisable?

Thanks :)


Edit:

Might as well post the query here.

I realise one thing - dark skin in shadow will be darker than light skin in shadow, but what I'm having problem is (I guess) is the highlights. Mind Candy Man (Who's online atelier I'm in), said that dark skin will have brighter highlights due to its reflective qualities, whereas light skin won't. I guess I'm having trouble with this.



Further Edit:

Another quickie - I'm using 3B 0.5mm lead, from what I understand, this isn't too good for rendering very light tones. So the only way for me to simulate light skin would be to place hatchet lines with lots of space in between, right?

[FourTonMantis]

Thanks for taking the time to reply Mantis :)

As for what you've said, I already am aware of that - but even then, when I put more distance between the lines in the lighter areas, my figure still looks like a dark skinned figure instead of white.


Well...why don't you post some examples so we can see what you're talking about?