This article will focus on pencil drawing. If you want to learn how to draw, but just can't get started, now is the time to start learning. Take a sheet of paper, a pencil and try 🙂 Let's start with the drawing technique.
Pencil Drawing Technique
There are two main drawing techniques - shading and shading with a pencil.
Hatching
With the help of strokes (short lines) you can very well convey the tone of the subject. Depending on the number of strokes drawn, you can get different levels of tone saturation (the fewer strokes, the lighter the tone, the more strokes, the darker). By the direction of the strokes, you can convey the texture of the surface of the figure. For example, horizontal strokes will convey the surface of the water well, and vertical strokes - the grass.
Basically, hatching is done with short straight strokes with approximately the same distance between them. Strokes are superimposed on paper with a pencil tear-off. First, one thin line is made, then the pencil returns to the start line, and in this way all other strokes are applied.
To enhance the depth of tone, you can apply crosshatching. For example, a horizontal hatch is applied to oblique hatching, darkening the tone, then on what came out, you can impose oblique hatching in the opposite direction to the first one - this will darken even more. In this case, the darkest tone will be the one where the hatching of all directions is combined.
shading
Feathering is one of the main techniques that can be applied when drawing to beginner artists. With the help of gradation of tone, you can give the figure volume. In general, feathering is a special case of hatching. After applying strokes, using the properties of pencil graphite and a special shading tool, they are shaded (smeared) until a uniform tone is obtained.
However, the implementation of the shading itself has a number of features.
- Feathering strokes must be done along the strokes, but not across. By feathering along the strokes, you will achieve a more natural toning.
- For shading, not only simple hatching is used, but also zigzag strokes.
With the help of such techniques, you can draw anything on paper.
10 common mistakes newbies make
Most people who enjoy drawing take the first steps on their own. And even if it's just a hobby, they still make various sketches. We want to write about 10 possible mistakes that all aspiring artists must face.
1. The wrong pencil
If your shadows don't come out well, check the markings on your pencil. He's probably too hard. Shadows are recommended to be drawn with pencils marked B, 2B and 4B, but not HB.
2. Drawing from photos
Each artist begins to draw from photographs. But very often photographs do not convey enough facial features for a good drawing. When a person's face is located in front, it will be difficult to correctly model his face on paper, since the perspective behind the head disappears. Try taking a photo where the person's head is tilted slightly to the side. Thus, the portrait will be more realistic and with better shadow reproduction.
3. Wrong basic proportions
Very often people start paying attention to details right away, drawing them completely without sketching the whole drawing. This is wrong as you are not planning the right proportions ahead of time. First, it is desirable to sketch the entire drawing, and only then draw in depth the details.
4. Twisted features
We are accustomed to look at a person directly and align when drawing. As a result, the portrait comes out quite distorted. When drawing complex objects, try to first outline the guides, along which it will be easier to build a drawing later.
5. Animal drawing
We usually look at our animal from top to bottom. From this, the head seems to us larger than the whole body, and normal proportionality is lost. Try to distract the animal so that it turns its face to the side, then the drawing will come out more truthful.
6. Strokes
If you draw each hair or blade of grass separately, then the drawing will come out disgusting. Try to make sharp sketches, going from dark to light.
7. Trees
Do not try to draw trees, flowers, leaves with the correct forms. Use contours and shadows for realism.
8. Wrong paper
Before buying paper, test it on a piece of paper, drawing something light. The paper may be too smooth and the pattern will be washed out. Also, the paper may be too stiff and the drawing will be quite flat.
9. Volumetric
When transferring volume, try not to use clear lines for the edges. They can be outlined by light lines of different tonality.
10. Shadows
Very often it does not work out to apply shadows evenly. Try to use the full color range of the pencil, going from light to darkest. If you are afraid to go too far with the dark, put a piece of paper under the edge, and all the black will be on it.
At first it may seem that pencil drawings are too ordinary, dull. But with the help of a pencil, you can convey a huge amount of emotions.
A small selection of video channels based on a pencil drawing:
From the author: If you are interested in painting, drawing, composition, and art in general, then you are here! By profession I am a Painter-Muralist. Graduated from the Moscow State Academic Art Institute. Surikov. On the Art Shima channel you will find videos where I paint and paint in oils, and videos with tips. Since I have many techniques, you can feel free to ask questions, and I will gladly answer them. By subscribing to my channel, you will be able to see all my new videos.
Interesting video tutorials on any topic.
The work is more difficult, but with a good description. If you really want it, it will work.
What is shading?
Hatching is one of the most valuable tools for creating volume and texture in a drawing. It is used to make parallel overlapping lines to create a sense of perspective and contour.
Let's take a look at the six basic hatching shapes and the benefits of each.
1. Parallel hatching
Parallel hatching is one of the main forms of hatching, and it is still a very effective way to highlight the dark and light areas of a drawing. It consists of rows of parallel lines located close to each other. Usually the lines are vertical, but they can be at any angle. By increasing the density of the lines, the area will appear darker, which will create volume in the drawing.
2. Contour hatching
Instead of simple parallel lines, this technique uses the method of repeating the contour of the figure. This shading method greatly improves the sense of volume and three-dimensionality of everything you draw.
3. Cross hatching
This is such a well-known method that almost every artist has come across it. After applying one layer of hatching, an additional layer is drawn on top, usually in a perpendicular direction. This method is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to change the density and darken the shaded areas. This method uses both simple lines and parallel lines, or you can follow the contours of the object.
4. Hatching with thin lines
This is a very refined and sophisticated form of shading, and it may not even be visible from afar. The method is similar to the previous one, with several layers of cross hatching layers. The thin pen line is the best tool for crosshatching, as close strokes will blend into each other at a distance.
5. Braided Hatching Method
There may be a name for this type of hatching, but it's a rather unusual type of hatching. Instead of all parallel marks, this type of hatching involves applying one row of parallel strokes in one direction, and then applying an adjacent group of parallel strokes in the opposite direction.
6. Hatching using features
This is another unusual hatching style, consisting of very short parallel strokes or strokes. Because the lines are so small and short, you can layer them on top of each other to create density without worrying about shading. This style often works best with a thicker nib for better graphic quality.
There are so many ways to approach regular hatching and crosshatching. Hatching can be used in portraits, still lifes, landscapes and more.
The best way to learn is to practice and experiment as often as possible. There is one useful exercise, you can print any drawing several times and practice various hatching methods on it.
Hatching vs Shading. Two pencil drawing techniques - video
Types of hatching for the symbol of materials in cuts and sections, see Table No. 7. Composite materials containing metals and non-metallic materials in cuts and sections are hatched as metals. If necessary, the liquid in transparent vessels can be depicted in the view in the same way as in the section. In addition, for a number of objects in cuts and sections, the types of hatching given in Table No. 8 are established.
Parallel straight hatching lines are applied with an inclination to the right or left at an angle of 45 °. The slope of the hatching lines of all cuts and sections of the same part must be performed in one direction. If the cuts and sections of a given part are made on the same scale, then the distance between the straight hatching lines should be the same. Depending on the size of the hatching area and the need to highlight the adjacent areas, the distance between the hatching lines should be selected in the range from 2 to 10 mm. For small images, it is allowed to reduce the distance between hatching lines to 1.5 mm.
For adjacent sections of two parts, counter hatching is used, that is, if the slope of the hatching lines for one section is taken to the right, then to the left for the other (Fig. 413).
When hatching in a cage in such cases, the distance between the hatching lines in one section must differ from the corresponding distance in the other. If a third is adjacent to two adjoining sections, then you should change the distance between the hatching lines (Figure 414) or shift these lines in one section relative to the lines in the other without changing the angle of inclination (Figure 415).
Narrow and long areas, for example, in stamped, rolled and similar parts, it is recommended to hatch by hand in discharge (Fig. 416) - for metallic materials (Fig. 417 - for non-metallic materials).
Narrow areas of sections with a width of 2 mm or less are allowed to be shown in black, leaving gaps between adjacent sections (in figure 418). 
Hatch lines for wood, plywood, glass and natural ground are freehand. Sections of the parts included in the welded assembly must be hatched in different directions (counter hatching), if the node is displayed separately; in this case, welds are shown (419, a). If a welded assembly is depicted assembled with other assemblies or parts, then it is allowed to hatch the section of the details of this assembly in one direction, without showing welds (419, b).
In order to learn how to draw three-dimensional figures, it is very important to master the technique that will allow you to achieve the most realistic images. Hatching with a pencil makes it possible to create not only simple pictures, but also to convey complex images.
Technology capabilities
Hatching with a pencil allows you to correctly depict the desired tone. Perform such drawings with lines of different frequencies, which allows you to depict tones of different saturation. Cross-hatching is used to deepen the tone.
If you look closely at the drawing made in this technique, then even in the darkest tone you can find all types of hatching: vertical, horizontal and oblique. With the help of pencil shading, you can not only convey the tone of the picture, but even show the surface of the objects depicted on it.
In addition to the usual direct hatching, relief hatching is often used in drawing. This type of pattern filling is necessary to give relief to individual objects (as the name implies). For example, arcuate lines often shape elements such as human lips.
It will be useful for a beginner to keep on the desktop the so-called stroke palette, which depicts various types and tones of hatching. With the help of such a table, it will be easier to understand which hatching should be used in each case. Ideally, if this palette is created by the draftsman himself, because, among other things, it is also an excellent skill training.
Teaching a small child
Children can be taught to draw from an early age. When a child is just learning to draw a pencil on paper, he can already be taught to do it right, to apply the first strokes, painting over some cat or house. At the same time, the kid does not need to know all the drawing techniques in general and hatching in particular. The maximum that you can teach him is to paint the house using different tone saturation. Just for such small drawings as a house or a car, pencil shading is ideal. For children, it is not so important that the texture of the house is perfectly depicted, the main thing is that it is very similar to a real house, and the kid did it himself.
Drawing for preschoolers
All children love to draw. Most often, the creations of preschoolers can hardly be called drawings; rather, it is just a set of icons, individual objects, schematic animals suspended “in the air”. If they started drawing with a child from early childhood, then by the age of 5-7 they should already have mastered the initial hatching with a pencil. For preschoolers, this is a rather interesting way of drawing, because it does not require special skills. However, by this age, the child is already quite capable of depicting geometric shapes, indicating light and shadow.
In addition to drawing skills, shading with a pencil for preschoolers also helps to develop fine motor skills, helps to learn perseverance and even instill good handwriting.
Complex drawings
Pencil shading was born from lithography and line etching. The great artists of the Norman school were fond of this technique of drawing. With the advent of the pencil in our lives, this art form has received a new development. Many magnificent drawings are created in this technique. With the skillful use of a stroke, you can create an image that has volume and conveys space. Different thickness of the lines allows you to realistically convey the depth of space.
A competent draftsman is able to depict incredibly complex pictures, looking at which it is simply impossible to believe that this is shading with a simple pencil. Often such paintings are created that are more like photographs, with many tones, transitions and the smallest expressive details.
To achieve success in drawing, you need to constantly practice. Hatching with a pencil is not the most difficult drawing method, you can even learn it yourself by studying the work of the masters and repeating the exercises. By analyzing and identifying your mistakes, you can succeed in pencil drawing. There have already been cases in history when a person became a popular artist, although he began to draw already at an advanced age.
Drawing is undoubtedly a great art. With the help of a pencil or paints, you can imagine any object and emphasize its shape, volume and other parameters. With the help of shading with a pencil, you can convey the mood of an object, as well as make it as similar as possible. The most important detail in a drawing is the line. It is thanks to her that clear outlines appear on paper. In order to correctly draw a line, you need to take into account some details.
Important points to pay attention to
First, it's paper. It should be dense, white, and have a rough surface. Special paper for the artist is called whatman paper.
Secondly, the sharpening of the pencil itself plays a role. The graphite rod should protrude from the wooden part by 8-10 mm, and the wooden part itself should be ground off by about 25-30 mm and not have roughness. The rod should be thin and easy to lay down on paper. For a sketch, it is more convenient to choose TM or 2M pencils, HB is also suitable. The initial stage of the drawing is done with a harder pencil, then in the process of work you can switch to a softer one.
Thirdly, you need to choose the right angle of incidence of light. A sheet of paper should be positioned in such a way that the future drawing is illuminated as much as possible, and the shadow from the hand does not fall on the sheet.
Of course, you should remember that you need to sit at the table evenly, without leaning low over the picture. Light classical music will help you immerse yourself in fantasies and the pencil will effortlessly slide over the paper. Although, of course, you can draw in complete silence.
Correct hand position
So, the first strokes of the outline of the subject are performed easily and without pressure. A straight line is drawn with small jerky strokes, denoting the contours. It should be noted that a pencil is not taken like a familiar ballpoint pen. It should be held differently. The pencil should be taken with two fingers so that the thumb is on top of the pencil, and the index finger is under the pencil. Fingers should fix only the unsharpened part of the pencil. It is necessary to ensure that the hand does not lie completely on the drawing. Only the little finger can touch the paper. With this position of the hands, the painter will be able to calmly observe his actions, drawing on paper not only smooth contour lines, but also moving in a circle.
Long straight lines should be drawn with a wave of the whole hand, lines of medium length are more convenient to depict by moving only the brush. Smooth short strokes should be drawn only with fingers on the surface of the sheet.
Depending on the pressure, the lines can be very thin, barely visible to the eye, or they can be very saturated. To get a good dark line, it is not at all necessary to press on the pencil with all your strength. It is enough to take a softer pencil and slightly increase the pressure.
The pencil itself, as a material, is widely used in the graphic representation of an object. Graphite, of which the pencil is mostly composed, tends to easily lie down on a sheet of paper, it is good to be there, and not crumble over time.
If the pencil line does not turn out the way it was planned, it can be easily erased with an eraser. The gum should be soft enough, white.
But it happens that after applying multiple hatching, it is almost impossible to wipe the pencil line - only ugly gray scuffs are formed. In this case, the bread crumb will save the drawing from collapse. After that, the wear will no longer be so gray and work can be continued further.
Components of a drawing
In any drawing, there are such concepts as light, shadow, glare, reflex and more. You need to start hatching from the light side of the object, gradually moving into the shadow part.
Hatching is a collection of small thin short lines. It is performed by applying at different angles. Basically, these are slanted lines. As a rule, the edges of the object 
hatched in shape. In this case, the line is bent.
The strokes should lie next to each other at a distance of less than a millimeter.
To convey the shadow, you need to impose several layers of hatching, increasing the pressure of the pencil. In the part where there is a glare on the object, the shading is wiped in a circular motion, thereby highlighting the object.
Penumbra is the place of transition from the light part to the dark part. It is performed more carefully, drawing all the invisible distant lines of the subject.
The shadow is the darkest area. It uses multi-layer hatching, with a softer pencil. In the shadow there is a slight reflection from objects that are nearby. It is called a reflex, and is lighter than a shadow.
Correct shading, as well as respect for proportions and location on a plane, makes it possible to see a beautiful, competent drawing that will arouse the admiration of others.
