Help with shading techniques, not values

[phix95]

I wondered what the best technique is to shading organic objects. I used to shade (like color, no lifting of pencil) and just varied intensity or pressure. But I learned at school to do crosshatching instead, which looks more professional. But my crosshatching doesn't look very good. I've also seen crosshatching done flatly across round objects, and seems to work. But when I do it, it looks flat. And when you shade, looking from a colored real life or magazine picture, how do you indicate dark colors? Because the darker shading could indicate darker colors OR shadow. How do you indicate the difference?

Also, in regard to linework, do you press harder when you're indcating shadows OR mass? For instance, a large (thus dense) muscle may mean pressing harder with your lines, but if it is in bright sunlight, would you still press hard? Or go soft to indicate lightness? And all this is for rendering b&w work.

Thanks

[nafa]

Take a look at this tutorial that should address at least part of your questions:

http://www.rebekahlynn.com/free/tutorial/shading_tutorial.html

[k4pka]

With black and white, you cant indicate the difference between a deep shadow, and a dark colour.

Just squint down, to lose colour information, and fairthfully copy the values you see infront of you (be it with hatching, or harder/softer pressing, whatever).

[DavePalumbo]

hatching and cross hatching are mostly useful in my opinion with non-pressure sensitive medums (such as ink). crosshatching in a pencil drawing indicates to me that there wasn't time to do a tighter redering or that a polished look was unimportant. Now, I'll cross hatch plenty in a pencil sketch, but that's because I don't often feel like putting the hours in for something I'm just fooling around with. If you want a tight polished result, though, I say be very patient and layer those careful pressure renderings. Try using different hardnesses of graphite also if you're not already, and experiment with a blending stump (tortillion I think?) and see how you like it

[Dizon]

when you're shading deep darks like form shadows, cast shadows, etc. Don't shade in one direction, shade in different directions. THis will give a richness to your shadows. AND start out lightly, dont add hard pressure because there is no need for it. Don't ruin the paper. This is like adding a layer of tone over another, until it gets darker and darker.

[phix95]

Thanks for the imput. Interesting how hatching is not looked upon as professional.
I saw, in my life drawing class a while back, some books my teacher brought in, concept art. I think for Lord of the Rings, and/or other movies requiring detailed art. I think they used hatching and it looked really good.
But, you all think shading is more the way to go? So like, shade/color lightly, then go over it heavier if the shadows are darker?
I will also look at that link you suggested.
Oh, here is a link to nice crosshatched shading: http://www.portrait-artist.org/basics/step-by-step3.html

[Dizon]

Thanks for the imput. Interesting how hatching is not looked upon as professional.
I saw, in my life drawing class a while back, some books my teacher brought in, concept art. I think for Lord of the Rings, and/or other movies requiring detailed art. I think they used hatching and it looked really good.
But, you all think shading is more the way to go? So like, shade/color lightly, then go over it heavier if the shadows are darker?
I will also look at that link you suggested.
Oh, here is a link to nice crosshatched shading: http://www.portrait-artist.org/basics/step-by-step3.html

If you want great crosshatching, I suggest you study old master drawings.

[phix95]

I'm not stuck on hatching. I just thought it was the better way. But it doesn't really matter to me. That's why I came here.

[Larrikin Lad]

I'm not stuck on hatching. I just thought it was the better way. But it doesn't really matter to me. That's why I came here.
Hatching is the better way.

The question you have to ask yourself is do I want my drawing to look like a drawing or do I want it to look like a photograph? The link above from nafa shows you how to make drawings look like photos.

Now you can put a photo into photoshop or some other program and turn it into a drawing.

Life is weird isn't it?

Crosshatching is an etching technique used by some artists in their drawings it works well with pen and ink.

[Dizon]

ummm there is no one "better" way. You can even use a combination. It really doesn't matter what kind of shading techniques you use. what matters is that you get your values right.

[GNL]

Its really not that difficult.

I think this has been covered a million times already - Values count, technique is not as important.


Use your brain and the search function before posting.

That portrait artist.org cross-hatching example is poor by the way.

[Dizon]

no need to be rude, GNL.

[GNL]

**sorry dudes*** *feel bad now*

didnt mean to come over as being rude - not my intention at all - honestly - i guess it reads like im a bit miffed! It honeslty wasnt meant in a grumpy/rude way!

And regarding using the brain - not at all meant to be rude -- I just encourage people to really THINK about things. I certainly didnt enough when I was younger.... it really solves a lot of time to just think it fully over -- or at least that worked for me...

so again, dudes - didnt mean to be a grumper!

[Larrikin Lad]

ummm there is no one "better" way. You can even use a combination. It really doesn't matter what kind of shading techniques you use. what matters is that you get your values right.Hmmmm I hate to disagree with such a fine gentleman as yourself and of course values make or break the illusion of form but..... some techniques are more exciting to look at than others.

The academic method has merit, good training for observation etc except they do produce boring works. Do you want to start modern art all over again?

Have a look at Robert Liberace's drawings, lovely lines and lovely hatching, you have to look close unfortunately they are small images. http://robertliberace.com/figuredrawing/figuredrawing.htm

Not all value drawings have equal merit I like to see the process and I like a drawing to be the end in itself not a precursor to painting. :D

I didn't think GNL was being rude just abrupt like I am at times :rolleyes:

[Dizon]

I'd like to think that each approach has its own special qualities, but I guess it's a matter preference to each individual what he/she is inclined to using or seeing. To be frank, stating that this approach is "better" than other, I find ridiculous based on the topic at hand. I suggest to Phix that he should do some research into other approaches and try each one for himself to find out which works the best for him.

Anyway, let me elaborate a bit on this combination of hatching and crosshatching I mentioned on the previous post for Phix. Looking at old master's approach. They used hatching and crosshatching lines to describe the form. hatched lines follow the direction of the form while crosshatched lines bunch up to describe fuller shadows. A contemporary approach to this combination of hatched and crosshatched lines is exemplified in Anthony Ryder's work. But the difference is that he is staying true to what the eye is seeing, so that means the values are closer to nature. When you look at his drawings from afar, his drawings look smooth and refined, but upon close inspection, you can actually see the 2 types of hatching being discussed. So the process is actually there and is different from the figure drawings that come out of ateliers like the ones in Italy. His technique, I find fascinating. It's like looking at newspaper images and seeing the small dots that make it up.

One thing that I would to say about rendering the human figure is that never make its form look so smooth or polished. Look out for forms and bring those out.