With parallel hatching, your lines should remain straight and run vertically or horizontally. With contour hatching, your lines should follow the contour of the outline you’re shading. When you add basic hatching to your drawing, you’ll use this skill to draw parallel lines over the area you wish to shade. Practice this by drawing a series of hatching lines on a piece of scrap paper. [2] X Research source
This second layer of hatch marks should cross over the first in perpendicular or near-perpendicular directions. The lines of the second layer should not cross over one another, though. Your cross hatch marks should match the hatch mark type used in your base layer. For example, if you started with parallel hatch marks, your cross hatch marks should also be parallel. Practice this by adding a set of cross hatching lines over your hatching.
Alternate directions when adding layers of cross hatching lines. For example, start with a set of vertical lines, then a horizontal set, then a diagonal set, then an opposite diagonal set. This will allow you to build up a deeper, darker shadow effect. [4] X Research source
Fine pencils and fine-line pens are best for this technique, because they can create precise lines that seem to blend together from a distance. [6] X Research source
Oftentimes, looking at a drawing for a long time can make it difficult to see problem areas—this trick can give you a new perspective and help you notice those areas more easily. [7] X Research source
When practicing the technique, it’s often best to start by drawing a three-dimensional geometric shape with clear, angular lines. [9] X Research source
If you’re drawing from imagination, try to imagine how the light would fall or find a similar object to examine. Note that the absolute lightest sections will have no hatch or cross hatch marks. Your imaginary light source would hit these areas directly, so they shouldn’t have any shadows. Areas and surfaces further away from your imaginary light source should be darker and will require more cross hatching. If you have trouble imagining a light source and the shadows it would cast, find a photograph of a simple object lit by a single light source. Note where the light and shadows fall, and practice copying this effect with cross hatching.
For this step, use a pencil and press lightly. This way, you can easily erase these lines if needed. Place more hatch marks closer together in sections that need heavier shading. For sections that need lighter shade, space the hatch marks further apart and use fewer hatch marks overall. The base hatch marks should indicate which areas are darker than others even before you add the cross hatching.
When working with a nibbed pen, dip it in the ink, then draw a line on a separate piece of scrap paper before moving to your drawing. This allows you to unload some of the excess ink and prevents it from bleeding onto the drawing itself. Go over the outline of the drawing first, then work on tracing each section of cross hatch marks. Work carefully and try to follow your previously created marks as closely as possible. You can add additional cross hatch marks as needed, but try not to get carried away since you won’t be able to undo any of the marks you make in this step. Note that any pencil marks that are still visible after inking might make the drawing look darker than the final piece will look, so don’t worry too much if the overall drawing looks darker than anticipated right now.
Wait for the ink to dry before you attempt any erasing. If you swipe the eraser over the drawing while the ink is still wet, you’ll smear the ink and ruin the crispness of your cross hatching.
Even if you want the final drawing to be inked, it’s still a good idea to start the drawing with pencil. Use a drawing pencil, mechanical pencil, or a sharpened standard number two pencil. For your inking tool, opt for either a nibbed pen or fine-tip ink pen. Both options work well, so choose whichever instrument you feel more comfortable handling.
Use a pencil and some scratch paper for this exercise. As you draw, refer to this scale to determine your desired value range. For example, you could select one value box on your scale to be the darkest value in your drawing. Use your scale to compare with the drawing and make sure you don’t go darker.
