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- March 19, 2022
There are many ways to shade, with each one leading to its own unique, distinct style. In this article, we describe 4 different types of shading techniques and what each one involves.
Photo credit: Blan-k. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.
The 4 shading techniques are blending, hatching, stippling, scumbling. There are also subcategories of each, including cross-hatching, contour hatching, pointillism. Each shading technique can be used in a variety of ways and they can be mixed with each other creatively.
Hatching Shading
What is hatching shading?
Hatching is an artistic technique where lines are used to shade, as opposed to a smooth gradient.
By far, the two most important things about hatching are line qualityand consistency. Rushing and creating unparallel, unnatural, or unevenly spaced lines completely ruin the effect of hatching.
It changes it from being a way to describe form, to just looking like random scribbles on a 2-D shape. So take your time and use nice even, natural flowing lines! Patience is key here!
Our recent post on how to hatch with a pen goes into all these factors in more detail, and it applies to any type of hatching, not just pen.
Hatching is one of those things that’s a lot trickier than it looks, so don’t get put off if it doesn’t look amazing straight away! When I was starting it I had lots of trouble and thought “how can I not do this, it should be so easy”. But there are a lot of subtle things about it, like knowing which length of lines to use, which direction, how many, etc.
So don’t worry if it takes some time! Practice on small 3-D shapes at first, focusing on consistency and line quality. Here are some other exercises to try (at the bottom).
There are 3 types of hatching: parallel hatching, cross-hatching, and contour hatching.
Parallel-hatching shading explained
Parallel-hatching is simply using parallel lines to shade your drawing.
The length of the strokes, density, and line weight all play a role in describing the form of the object.
Cross-hatching shading explained
Cross-hatching is like parallel hatching, except new layers are added with parallel lines going in a different direction.
There is no limit to how many layers can be added, with each one increasing the darkness/value.
Contour-hatching shading explained
Contour-hatching also involves parallel lines, only this time they all follow the contour of the object. This results in a more natural look.
Contour-hatching can also be combined with cross-hatching to create interesting effects!
Stippling Shading
What's the difference between pointillism and stippling shading?
Both pointillism and stippling involve using small dots. The difference between them is stippling is done in black pen/pencils, using them to simulate shading, whereas pointillism uses colored dots to make up the entire piece/area.
How difficult is stippling shading?
Stippling requires a solid understanding of form, light, and shadow. And it takes time. A long time. But if you have the patience it can result in really unique, awesome drawings!
How to do stippling shading
Just like with hatching, stippling requires two main things: patience and consistency. Only even more so this time.
Rushing and doing dots that aren’t quite dots, but more like tiny lines, ruins the illusion that stippling offers. The same is true for the consistency in your spacing. Practicing on small geometric shapes is a great way to start learning stippling, but make sure to take your time!
Build up an initial layer of equally spaced dots, then once finished, start a new layer but this time covering slightly less area. Then do another new layer covering slightly less area etc. Repeat this until you have the effect of a gradient.
It’s also good to practice on a cube, making one face have just one layer of dots, another face having 2 layers, and another having 3.
Scumbling/Scribbling Shading
What is scumbling shading?
Scumbling or scribbling shading is really fun and much faster than hatching or stippling. It also creates really interesting, professional-looking art.
It’s basically what it sounds like – shading by using scribbles!
How do you shade with scribbles?
Using your awareness of form, light, and shadow, you scribble with different degrees of density to create an illusion of form.
Unlike hatching and stippling, scumbling doesn’t require patience. It’s actually the opposite. Using swift, natural, random scribbles you build up the form.
Layering the lightest area, then the next lightest, all the way to the darkest is the easiest way to go about it.
Blending Shading
(For a step by step tutorial on how to draw and shade the sphere above, check out our recent post here!)
Blending shading… We all know it and love it (and probably hate it sometimes too)!
This is just the normal way of shading by using a gradient of different values. It’s very common to blend with a blending tool to smooth out your shading.
Our recent article describes the 4 different tools to use to smooth out your shading and how to use them!
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