VALUE SCALES
Brenda Hoddinott
F-01 BEGINNER: HATCHING
When you can render sets of hatching lines well, you discover a very
fast and simple way to achieve realistic shading in your drawings.
Many different styles of hatching sets can be rendered, from lines
that are very noticeable, to lines drawn so closely together that they
look like a solid tone.
This lesson is divided into the following three sections:
EXAMINING HATCHED VALUES: Related terms and words
are defined, and four different values demonstrate the simplicity
of hatching.
DRAWING BASIC HATCHING SETS: You make different
values by placing the hatching lines either far apart or close
together (varying the density).
CREATING VALUE SCALES: A full range of values is
rendered by: varying the density of the hatching lines, and the
pressure used in holding pencils; and by using different grades of
pencils.
Have your drawing supplies close by so you can follow along with
the simple exercises! Suggested supplies include 2H, HB, 2B, 4B
and 6B pencils, vinyl and kneaded erasers, and drawing paper.
5 PAGES – 10 ILLUSTRATIONS
This article is recommended for artists of all ages and abilities, as
well as home schooling, academic and recreational fine art
educators.
Published by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS,
Canada – Revised 2006
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and
may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web site http://www.finearteducation.com or http://www.drawspace.com
2
EXAMINING HATCHED VALUES
You become more comfortable with using shading in your drawings when you know how to
draw value scales. Shading refers to the various shades of gray (values) in a drawing that make
drawings look three-dimensional. Values are the different shades of gray created when you draw
by varying the density of the shading lines, and the pressure used in holding various pencils.
Value scale refers to the range of different values from light to dark or from dark to light.
Drawing valuescales with hatching, requires lots of practice before you can experience success.
Hatching is a series of lines (called a set) drawn closely together to give the illusion of values.
1) Squint your eyes and/or move back a little, and look at the four different sets of
hatching lines in Illustration 01-01.
ILLUSTRATION 01-01
The first set (on the far left) has very few lines
drawn far apart, creating the illusion of a light
value. Each of the other sets appears to become
progressively darker, until you get to the last
one which is the darkest.
2) Try your hand at drawing random sets of parallel lines in your sketchbook.
Take note of how you make these lines. You should try many different ways of moving
your pencil, rotating your paper, or changing the angle of your lines, until you find the
motions that are the most natural for you.
DRAWING BASIC HATCHING SETS
In this exercise, you use a 2B pencil to practice drawing sets of parallel hatching lines far apart
and closer together, to create four different values.
ILLUSTRATION 01-02
3) Draw the first set of hatching lines with very few lines.
The old expression “few and far between” works well here.
The lines are far apart and few in number.
ILLUSTRATION 01-03
4) Draw a second set of lines a little closer together than your
first set.
More lines are drawn in the second value than in the first.
Hence, the overall value should look a little darker.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and
may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web site http://www.finearteducation.com or http://www.drawspace.com
3
ILLUSTRATION 01-04
5) Draw a third set of parallel lines, closer together than in
your first two sets.
Note that there are many more lines than in the second set
and the lines are much closer together.
ILLUSTRATION 01-05
6) Draw the fourth set of hatching lines very closely
together.
More lines make up the fourth hatching set and they are
much closer together than in the first three. Also, not as much
of the white paper is still showing through.
ILLUSTRATION 01-06
In Illustration 01-06, I show
you a small sampling of
hatching styles. Note the
different types of hatching
lines, such as curved and
straight, and long and short.
Try to imagine how you
could apply each of these sets
to something in a drawing.
7) Try drawing some sets
of different styles of
hatching lines in your
sketchbook.
CREATING VALUESCALES
In this section, you discover how you can achieve a full range of values by varying both the
density of the hatching lines and the pressure applied, while using pencils of different grades.
8) Practice hatching with each of your pencils and notice their differences.
The 2H is very light (hardest) and the 2B is quite dark (softest). By letting your pencils do
some of the work, you don’t need to press as hard with your pencil to achieve dark values,
and you have more control doing light values. In the next exercise, you use three different
pencils to help create various values. 2B works best for creating the dark values, HB is
great for middle values, and 2H is ideal for light values.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and
may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web site http://www.finearteducation.com or http://www.drawspace.com
4
9) Draw a value scale of seven different values.
Using your 2H pencil, draw the first three values beginning with the lightest. With your HB
pencil, draw the next two values. Use your 2B for the two darkest values. Keep practicing
this value scale in your sketchbook until you can draw all seven different values. Then try
this same exercise in reverse from dark to light.
ILLUSTRATION 01-07
ILLUSTRATION 01-08
Have a close look at these two sets of hatching lines
and observe the following:
In the hatching example in the upper left, you can
clearly see my hatching lines.
I draw my hatching lines very closely together in
the lower right drawing, to create the illusion of a
smooth, solid tone (without blending).
In this next exercise, your goal is to make seven different smooth
values by drawing the hatching lines close together.
10) With 2H and HB pencils, begin with the lightest value, and draw the first three light
values as in the next illustration.
11) Use your 2B, 4B and 6B pencils to draw the four darker values.
ILLUSTRATION 01-09
12) Draw a value scale of ten different values from light to dark.
ILLUSTRATION 01-10
13) Draw another value scale of ten different values from dark to light.
Copyright to all articles, images, text, projects, lessons and exercises within this drawing class belong to Brenda Hoddinott and
may not be reproduced or used for any commercial purposes whatsoever without the written permission of Brenda Hoddinott.
E-mail bhoddinott@hoddinott.com
Web site http://www.finearteducation.com or http://www.drawspace.com
5
Practice drawing valuescales every single day, until you can
clearly distinguish ten different values!
Put the date on the back of your drawings each day so you can
enjoy watching your skills improve.
BRENDA HODDINOTT - BIOGRAPHY
As a self-educated teacher, visual artist, portraitist, forensic artist, and illustrator, Brenda
Hoddinott utilizes diverse art media including graphite, technical pen, colored pencil, chalk
pastel, charcoal, conté crayon, and oil paints.
My philosophy on teaching art is to focus primarily on the enjoyment aspects
while gently introducing the technical and academic. Hence, in creating a
passion for the subject matter, the quest for knowledge also becomes enjoyable.
>Brenda Hoddinott<
Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Brenda grew up in the small town of Corner Brook. She
developed strong technical competencies with a personal commitment to self directed learning,
and the aid of assorted “Learn to Draw” books. During Brenda’s twenty-five year career as a
self-educated civilian forensic artist, numerous criminal investigation departments have
employed Brenda’s skills, including Royal Canadian Mounted Police and municipal police
departments. In 1992, Brenda was honored with a commendation from the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, and in 1994, she was awarded a Certificate of Membership from “Forensic
Artists International”.
Her home-based art career included graphic design, and teaching recreational drawing and
painting classes. As supervisor of her community’s recreational art department, Brenda hired and
trained teachers, and designed curriculum for several children’s art programs. In 1998, Brenda
chose to end her eighteen-year career as an art educator in order to devote more time to writing,
drawing, painting, and developing her websites.
Drawspace http://www.drawspace.com incorporates her unique style and innovative approach to
curriculum development. This site offers downloadable and printable drawing classes for
students of all abilities from the age of eight through adult. Students of all ages, levels and
abilities have praised the simple step-by-step instructional approach. This site is respected as a
resource for fine art educators, home schooling programs, and educational facilities throughout
the world.
LEARN-TO-DRAW BOOKS BY BRENDA HODDINOTT
Drawing for Dummies (2003): Wiley Publishing, Inc., New, York, NY, this 336 page book
is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Drawing People (2004): Winner of the Alpha-Penguin
Book of the Year Award 2004, Alpha - Pearson Education – Macmillan, Indianapolis, IN,
this 360 page book is available on various websites and in major bookstores internationally.
. different
values by placing the hatching lines either far apart or close
together (varying the density).
CREATING VALUE SCALES: A full range of values. various pencils.
Value scale refers to the range of different values from light to dark or from dark to light.
Drawing value scales with hatching, requires