BASIC
Brenda Hoddinott
F-08 BEGINNER: HATCHING
In this lesson, you use contourhatching to depict the illusion of depth, by transforming a circular
shape into a three-dimensional form. Contourhatching is a series of curved lines (called a set)
drawn closely together to give the illusion of values, and is ideal for rendering the illusion of
three dimensional form.
This lesson is divided into the following three sections:
Ü INTRODUCTION: Related terms and words are defined, and two drawings are presented.
The first is shaded with straight hatching lines, and looks very flat and two-dimensional. The
second is shaded with curved hatching lines that follow the perceived contours of a form;
hence, the form looks three-dimensional.
Ü USE YOUR NATURAL HAND MOVEMENTS: A critical aspect of achieving smooth
shading with contourhatching is becoming aware of, and then utilizing your own natural
hand movements. This section tells you how to find your most natural drawing motions.
Ü DRAW A FORM WITH CONTOUR HATCHING: This exercise takes you through the
process of using contourhatching to transform a circular shape into a three-dimensional
form.
Suggested drawing supplies include good quality white drawing paper, HB and 2B graphite
pencils, kneaded and vinyl erasers, a pencil sharpener, and a sandpaper block.
This project is recommended for artists from age 10 to adult with basic drawing skills, as well as
home schooling, academic and recreational fine art educators of beginner-level students.
7 PAGES – 9 ILLUSTRATIONS
Published by Hoddinott Fine Art Publishers, Halifax, NS, Canada – 2005 (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 sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 2 -
INTRODUCTION
In this lesson, you use curved lines to depict the illusion of depth by transforming a circular
shape into a three-dimensional form.
Curved lines are created when a straight line curves (or bends). Curved lines can be drawn thick
or thin. Shape refers to the outward outline of a form or section of a pattern. Basic shapes include
circles, squares and triangles. Form, as applied to drawing, is the illusion of the three-
dimensional structure of a shape, created in a drawing with shading and/or perspective. Shading
refers to the various shades of gray (values) in a drawing that make the subjects appear three-
dimensional. Shading is also the process of adding values to a drawing so as to create the illusion
of form and/or three-dimensional space. Values are the different shades of gray created when you
draw by varying both the density of the shading lines, and the pressure used in holding various
pencils.
Compare the following two drawings. Each is the same shape, but one is shaded with straight
hatching lines, and the other with curved hatching lines. Hatching is a series of lines (called a
set) drawn closely together to give the illusion of values. Depending on the shading effects you
want, you can make the individual lines in hatching sets far apart or close together.
ILLUSTRATION 08-01 ILLUSTRATION 08-01
The circular shape
in illustration 08-
01 looks very flat
and two-
dimensional. The
circular shape in
illustration 08-02
has been shaded
with contour
hatching.
The curved hatching lines follow the contours of the perceived forms of the circular shape; hence
the illusion of three-dimensional form is created.
USE YOUR NATURAL HAND MOVEMENTS
A critical aspect of achieving smooth shading with contourhatching is becoming aware of and
then utilizing your own natural hand movements. To discover which are ideal for you, simply
draw several sets of slightly curved lines. As you draw, take note of how you make these lines,
how smooth the lines look, and how comfortable you feel while drawing them. Try many
different ways of moving your pencil, rotating your paper, or changing the directions of your
lines, until you find the motions that are the most natural for you.
For example, one possibility consists of lines that curve upward from the lower right toward the
upper right (marked 1 in Illustration 08-03). Another is from the upper right curving downward
toward the lower right (marked 2).
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 sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 3 -
The motions indicated in sets 1 and 2, work best for me and, as you can tell by the awkwardness
of the lines in numbers 3 to 8, others are very unnatural to me.
Any of the stroking movements illustrated may be perfect for you, and of course you can also
experiment with others. To take advantage of your natural hand movement, you need to
continuously rotate your drawing paper as you draw. For example if I want my sets of lines (1
and 2) to curve in the opposite direction, I simply turn my paper upside-down to draw.
ILLUSTRATION 08-03
DRAW A FORM WITH CONTOURHATCHING
In this exercise, curved hatching lines are used to transform a circular shape into a three-
dimensional form.
ILLUSTRATION 08-04
1. Lightly sketch a circular shape with your HB pencil.
No need to make your shape exactly like mine,
but try to come close. Mine looks like a cross
between a kidney bean, a potato, and a cocoon!
Keep your lines very light by pressing very
gently with your pencil. The lines in this
particular sketch seem dark; however, in
reality the lines are so light that I can barely
see them. I have made them darker in a
computer program so you can see them.
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 sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 4 -
ILLUSTRATION 08-05
2. Add a few curved lines to map the directions
in which the hatching lines will curve.
As you work, pretend you are
wrapping string around a circular
form.
Always place a piece of
clean paper under your
hand as you draw.
Each time you work
on a new section,
remember to move
your paper so it’s
always under your
hand.
This prevents you
from smudging your
drawing, and protects
the paper from the
oils in your skin.
ILLUSTRATION 08-06
3. Use curved hatching lines to add
shading to the lower section of the
circular shape.
The hatching lines follow
the perceived contours of
the surface of the form.
The hatching lines
are not long and
continuous; rather
they are of various
lengths.
Also, remember
to use your
natural hand
movement to
help you render
smoothly
flowing curved
lines.
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 sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 5 -
ILLUSTRATION 08-07
4. Continue adding shading that follows the
contours of the surface of the form.
If your shading isn’t as smooth
as you would like, you can
touch it up.
To make lines lighter
pat them with your
kneaded eraser
molded to a wedge
shape.
You can make
sections darker
by drawing
more short
curved hatching
lines in between
others.
ILLUSTRATION 08-08
5. Switch to a freshly sharpened 2B pencil
and add darker curved lines around the
perimeter of the shape.
This dark value will enhance
the illusion of a three
dimensional form.
The dark curved
lines need to feather
gently toward the
lighter values in the
center sections;
hence, the curved
hatching lines are
raggedy and of
various lengths.
Don’t forget to rotate
your drawing paper!
Use a sandpaper block
to keep the point of
your pencil sharpened.
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 sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 6 -
6. Use an HB pencil to fill in lots more curved hatching lines until the surface of the form
appears to be a medium value.
The transition between the dark and medium values is very smooth. The curved hatching
lines are barely noticeable because they are really close together with hardly any of the
white paper still showing through.
7. Touch up any sections you aren’t happy with.
Remember, if the transition between your values isn’t as smooth as you like, you can
improve it. Try using a freshly sharpened HB pencil to add a few more short curved
hatching lines in between others.
ILLUSTRATION 08-09
Practice drawing sets of contourhatching lines every chance you can
find! With only half an hour a day of practice, there will be a
significant improvement in your drawings very soon.
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 sites http://www.finearteducation.com and http://www.drawspace.com
- 7 -
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 incorporate her unique style and innovative approach to
curriculum development. These sites offer 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. These sites are 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.
.
BASIC
Brenda Hoddinott
F-08 BEGINNER: HATCHING
In this lesson, you use contour hatching to depict the illusion. drawing motions.
Ü DRAW A FORM WITH CONTOUR HATCHING: This exercise takes you through the
process of using contour hatching to transform a circular shape