Drawing Value to Model Form

In the previous lessons in this module, you have trained your hand and eyes to work together through contour line drills and have applied the principles of perspective to a visual verbal journal assignment and a major project. In this lesson, you will learn how to use drawing materials, create value and make interesting compositions.

Drawing value to model form sketch examples

Value

Drawing is the process of making a mark on a surface. The surface could be paper, a wall, or even the floor, and the mark could be made by traditional art materials like graphite, mud, pigment, or rocks. Early humans used berries and pieces of charcoal from the fire to create elaborate drawings that communicated the stories of their daily life on cave walls. In your supply box is a set of drawing pencils. You may have noticed that they have a lettering system on the handle and that the numbers and letters correlate to the lightness or darkness of each pencil. The values in the value scale represent the different shades of pencils available to artists. A traditional #2 pencil is an HB pencil or middle gray on the value scale.

Blending, stippling, hatching, and cross-hatching can create value. Blending with a pencil is done by gradually building up graphite until the desired value is created. The value scale on the right represents the blended pencil value scale.

Drawing Techniques and Mark Making

Stippling uses tiny dots to create value. The closer together the dots are placed together, the darker the tone. Larger dots create a denser tonal value more quickly but can look coarse. The values in this portrait are created solely by dots.

Hatching is the most basic method of creating value in drawing. Fine parallel lines fill an area so that from just a slight distance, we have the illusion of value. The closer the lines are placed together, the less white paper shows, which results in a darker value. Heavier line weight (pressing more firmly or using a bigger nib) also gives a darker appearance. Hatching can use vertical, diagonal, or horizontal lines, but not a combination of the three.

Cross-hatching is a method of line drawing that describes light and shadow. The representation of light utilizes the white or openness of the page, while the density of crossed lines creates shadow.

Drawing examples of stippling, cross-hatching, and hatching hanging by colored clothespins on a clothesline.

Please watch the pencil drawing video below to learn more about this skill.

Composition

Composition is the arranging of the elements of art with the principles of design to create a finished artwork. There are several compositional techniques used by artists including the rule of odds, limited focus, creating movement, and using a viewfinder. Use the link below to create your own viewfinder. A viewfinder works like a window that only allows you to see a small portion of the overall still life. The rule of odds is when the artist creates an artwork that contains an odd number of items and often helps create movement of the eye throughout an artwork. Limited focus is also a successful composition technique that allows for only a small area of the overall composition to be in focus that instantly creates emphasis.

Click here to download the Viewfinder Templates.

Reference photo of teacher still life next to teacher pencil drawing of still life

You will arrange your paper geometric forms on a table that can be set up and not moved for several days. There will also need to be a light source that does not change during the duration of this assignment. When setting up your still life you will want the light source on so you can see the shadows as they will become a large part of the final artwork. Try to only have one direct light source (eliminate light sources such as overhead lights). In the teacher sample above you see the still life with lighting on the left and the finished teacher drawing on the right. You will complete 3 labs that will prepare you for your final geometric still life project.

View this review presentation below.

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