Hatching and Crosshatching

These are old techniques, favored by the masters such as Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer. Hatching involves drawing values with parallel lines that follow the direction of a selected plane. Crosshatching involves lines that are layered at cross-angles to create darker tones and texture. For both of these methods, you need to keep your pencils sharp to create nice, clear lines. I also add basic shading with these strokes to refine small details.

Materials

Colored pencils
Stamp
Gray ink pad
Drawing paper

Stamp your image onto drawing paper using a light gray ink pad.

2. Draw the contour lines (lines that follow the edges of the drawing subject), applying varying pressure so the lines have thick and thin and dark and light areas.

3. Make sure you have a sharp point on your pencil. Using a light-colored pencil with very thin and light marks, draw parallel lines across the entire image to denote the direction of the hatching strokes for the shading. I usually do not erase these lines on the final drawing. Place darker lines closer together in the shadows, and use lighter and thinner lines for the graduating lighter shades.

4. Continue to refine the shading by adding darker and lighter hatching for the shadows and highlights. Keep all the strokes parallel and straight using your lightly drawn guide marks from Step 3. You can reinforce the darkest areas with basic shading strokes on top of the hatching. Notice how the hatching goes past the image outline for an interesting da Vinci-like effect.

Crosshatching

Start by lightly hatching in your color fields. Then cross the hatching with lines going in the opposite direction, adding depth and shaded areas to the design.

2. Basic shading is important to bring out the details, or you’ll tend to get just a bunch of lines across the image that make the piece look busy. Refine and darken the shadows with basic shading and crosshatched lines.

3. Refine the lines and add crosshatching around the image. In this sample, the haloing crosshatching makes it look like the scarecrow is losing hay and adds interest and movement to the drawing.