Shading Techniques

Video Tutorials

What is Shading?

ShadingTechniques

Contour

Cross Hatching

Hatching

Stippling

Circulism

Scribble

Hatching

Hatching with parallel lines is the same as cross hatching, except you are making all the lines go in the same direction. It is a bit more time consuming than cross hatching but can lead to interesting results.

Cross Hatching

Cross hatching is where you overlap lines at various angles. It’s great for drawing fabrics like burlap, textured (wrinkly) skin and whatever else you can think of that displays such a pattern. To shade light areas, lighten your lines and space them further apart. In shadowed areas, darken them and bring them I like to start by the lightest area and then add layers of cross hatching until I reach the darkest area of the drawing.

Contour

Contour shading is similar to hatching and cross hatching. The difference is that the lines are curved to follow the contours of the subject. So these lines can be drawn horizontally, vertically and even diagonally.

Scribble

Doodles are simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be composed of random and abstract lines, generally without ever lifting the drawing device from the paper, in which case it is usually called a “scribble”. Scribbling or scumbling is a fun way to shade a drawing and it goes fast! Scumbling or scribble drawings shading works particularly well for portraits and still life.

Stippling

Stippling is a shading technique that uses countless tiny dots to create gradients, depth, and texture in artwork. By varying the density and spacing of the dots, artists can produce smooth transitions from light to dark areas. This technique is commonly used in pen-and-ink drawings and printmaking to achieve intricate detail and a rich sense of dimension.

Circulism

Circulism is a shading technique that uses small, overlapping circular strokes to create smooth transitions and soft textures in artwork. By varying the pressure and size of the circles, artists can achieve depth, blending, and realistic shading effects. This technique is often used in pencil drawings, especially for rendering skin, clouds, and other soft surfaces.

Shading

Shading techniques are methods artists use to create depth, dimension, and texture in their drawings by manipulating light and shadow. Each technique varies in texture, control, and effect, allowing artists to achieve different artistic styles and levels of detail. Mastering shading is essential for creating lifelike and dynamic artwork, whether working with pencil, pen, or other mediums.

HatchiNG

Stippling

Cross Hatching

Circulism

Contour

Scribble