Shading

Shading is a technique used by an artist to create tonal

variations in their drawings or paintings. By applying
shading, an artist can achieve the desired level of
contrast between light and dark values.
Shading is a specific method that forms a part of the
drawing process, that is used to create the appearance
of volume and form. It can transform the depiction of a
subject or object, from appearing two dimensional and
simply made of contour lines, to appearing three
dimensional.
Shading techniques differ from drawing techniques,
as shading techniques describe how the artist creates a
value range in their piece, to create the appearance of
light, dark and volume.
Shading Techniques

Shading techniques enable artists to create a

range of values and a contrast between
highlights and shadows. Different shading
techniques will produce different kinds of
textures, patterns and results.
A drawing is a combination of line and tone.
Shading is what takes a drawing from
looking two dimensional, to appearing as if
it has volume and form. Shading techniques
give the artist more control over the values
produced, whilst creating texture and depth.
 Tonal Shading

Tonal shading is the process of

altering the pressure applied to
the pencil to create shadows and
highlights.
This is the easiest and most
intuitive shading technique, that
most people use when they start
learning to draw.
 Tonal Shading

By applying an even amount of

pressure to create a smooth
mark, artists can block in large
areas with consistent values.
Apply more pressure and create
darker marks, then reduce the
pressure for lighter midtones.
For the highlights in a drawing,
you can let the white of the
paper show through.
The benefit of this technique is
that you can create a smooth
appearance. For drawings that
have smooth surfaces, skin
texture or for
realistic drawing styles, this
technique would be most suitable.
Tonal shading is an excellent
technique to use with mediums
such as charcoal and graphite.
This is because they have soft
leads that enable the artist to
vary tone with the pressure
applied. Artists can also use
powdered graphite or charcoal
and brush it on the paper. With
this, artists can achieve lighter
Hatching
Hatching is a shading technique that
involves creating thin, parallel lines.
These can be used to create areas of
light or shadow in your artwork. This
technique can be varied by changing
the length and angle of the lines, as
well as adjusting their thickness and
spacing.
The hatching technique can also be
used to create movement and
direction in landscapes or figures. If
you are using mediums like pen, ink,
silverpoint, or etching, hatching is a
great way to create variation in
values.
Parallel hatching appears clean and
tidy, with uniform, straight lines. This
consistency and repetition creates
harmony in the shaded areas of the
drawing, which can add interest to the
composition of the piece.
Vary the darkness, thickness or
density of the lines to create areas
that appear darker or lighter. You can
change the direction of hatched lines
for different sections of the shadows
in the drawing to add variety to the
piece. Choose to follow the general
plane of the contours of the form, or
guide the viewer towards a focal point
with the line direction.
Cross Hatching
Cross hatching is
similar to hatching,
but it involves
crossing two sets of
thin, parallel lines to
create a more detailed
and textured look.
This technique can be
used in many ways,
from creating subtle
shadows and shading
to creating bolder
textures in your art
work
Cross hatching is a great way
to add extra depth and
contrast to your drawings, as
it allows you to create multiple
layers of tonal variation. It can
also be used to create
dramatic effects in
landscapes, portraits or
figures.
To improve your cross hatching skills,
start by simply drawing a series of lines.
Try to make each line you draw look
uniform and consistent. Then, try
drawing longer lines, keeping them
uniform. Apply pressure to create a
series of uniform dark lines. When your
lines have uniformity, then move on to
challenging yourself to creating the
perfect gradient with cross hatched
lines. Start by outlining a square or
circle shape, then shading the darkest
area with marks that are close together
and darker in value. Slowly transition to
the midtones by applying less pressure
to the pencil and spacing the cross
hatched marks out more.
Contour hatching
Contouring, or
contour hatching is
similar to cross
hatching. However,
instead of drawing
crossed, straight
parallel lines, draw
the lines so that they
curve to the contours
of the
volume of the form
that you are trying to
represent.
Contour hatching is a shading
technique that better portrays
the volume of a figure or scene.
It adds texture and rhythm to a
drawing (and you can use the
technique with pen, ink or
etching materials), but it adds
a sense of realism by showing
the complexities of the
curvature of the form. Where
parallel hatching and cross
hatching has a flat effect,
contour hatching better
communicates the planes of a
subject or object.
Stippling
Stippling is a shading
technique that involves
creating small dots of
varying densities to create
tonal variations in your
artwork. This technique
also works well when used
together with other
shading techniques, as it
helps to add extra texture
and depth to your
drawings.
 Stippling
This technique involves repeatedly
dotting the page, with dots in closer
proximity representing darker
values. It can take a long time to use
dots for shading, however once you
get into the flow of creating the
dotting action, it can be quite
meditative. The results can be
striking—when the viewer steps
away, the dots appear to blur
together, creating shadow and
highlight tones, however, get up
close and see patterns of individual
dots.
Scumbling
Scumbling is a shading technique that
involves scribbling in circular motions to
create textured shaded areas. The holes in
the circles let the white backdrop of the paper
show through, which creates the appearance
of light. For darker areas, apply more pressure
and create multiple layers of scumbles.
The beauty of this technique is that it allows
you to capture subtle details that would
otherwise be difficult to achieve with other
techniques. Additionally, scumbling can be
used to create soft gradations of light and
shadow in your artwork, which can help to
create more realistic looking drawings. If you
want your drawing to look full of life and
rhythm, the scumbling technique can
introduce enough variety to create a unique
appearance.
The benefit of using different shading techniques

By using techniques such as

hatching, cross hatching,
stippling and scumbling, artists
can achieve not only depth in
their tones and a large value
range, but also texture,
movement, rhythm and
harmony.
The benefit of using different shading techniques
The purpose of shading, is to create a value range in
an artwork. Values refer to the relative lightness or
darkness of a colour, irrespective of its hue or
saturation. Creating a value range, then is about
creating light and shadows in an artwork. To create a
high contrast between the lightest and darkest
values, the tonal shading technique is the most
effective. Apply pressure to a soft pencil or charcoal
stick to create the darkest values, and leave a lighter
touch for the lightest values.
Shading tips
•Start with light pressure, then gradually build the darker values.
This way, if you make a mistake, it will be easier to erase. Starting
tentatively results in more accurate finished pieces.
•Explore different materials and tools to create various textures.
Pastels, charcoal, chalk and ink pens can all help to achieve certain
effects.
•Be aware of the edges in your artwork– soft edges blur the
boundary between two tones, whereas hard edges provide a more
precise definition of where one stops and another begins.
•Experiment with different values and textures to create interesting
effects. You can use a combination of techniques, such as hatching
and cross hatching, to achieve the desired result.
•Get a value scale to help you determine value relationships
better. Spend time looking at your reference, to determine where
the darkest values are, the midtones, reflected light, light values
and brightest highlights are and their relationship to one another.
What have you learned?

1.What is shading?
2.What are the different kinds of
shading?
3.Why do we need to know shading?
Let’s have an activity:
Directions:
Draw a simple example for each
shading techniques that have been
discussed.
Reference:
https://finearttutorials.com/guide/shading-techniques/