Value is the term we use when describing how light or dark something is.

When using graphite there are two ways to create different values:

• • • Push harder or softer on the pencil

    • Use various grades of graphite.

Remember using an HB pencil, then a 2B pencil, and finally a 6B pencil. Each time the graphite's value became darker and darker.

Grades of pencils, or graphite, are directly related to their value. Essentially, pencils can be very hard or very soft. You are all mostly used to those yellow, Ticonderoga #2 pencils. These are actually "HB" pencils, meaning the graphite is neutral, or right in the middle. You'll find they work for most of your drawing needs, until you want to make something really dark. If you don't use a softer pencil for this you'll never achieve what you're looking for.

A "B" grade means the core has more graphite, and will make a bolder, darker line, and also be a little smudgier than a light pencil. The higher the number the softer it is.

An "H" grade means the core has more clay, and will make a lighter, finer line, and will be less smudgy than a dark pencil. The higher the number the harder it is.

Shading is the process artists use to create the illusion of real life. The illusion of real life can be made by accurately representing how light reflects off surfaces or is blocked by objects in front of you.

To shade we use different values to represent the parts of light we see on objects.

Remember some key elements in your shading process:

• • • Direct Light - The direct light (also called the center light) is the area of the form that faces the light source and receives the most direct light.

    • Highlight - The highlight is the lightest area on the form because it is perpendicular to the light source. It is actually a reflection of the light source, so it moves depending on where you are in relation to it. This is why the highlight should be the last element that you concern yourself with in your drawing.

    • Halftone - The half-tone is the gradation between the direct light and the core shadow.

    • Core Shadow - The core shadow is the dark band visible where light and shadow meet. It is the point at which light can no longer reach the form.

    • Reflected Light - While direct light from the light source cannot reach the underside of the sphere, it can reach the surface on which the sphere rests, bounce off of it into the shadow on the sphere, and lighten its value.

    • Cast Shadow - The cast shadow is the shadow on the surface that the object rests on. It is created by the object itself blocking the light from the light source.

    • Occlusion Shadow - Part of the cast shadow, the occlusion shadow is immediately below the form. It is the darkest segment of the cast shadow because it is least affected by the light source and reflected light.

I want you all to think back to the lessons about aerial perspective. You all were able to understand that things in the distance are smaller, lighter, and less detailed while objects closer to us are larger, darker, and have more detail. This method is one of the ways of depicting three-dimensional space on a flat piece of paper. Without covering these terminologies, you were already employing each of these following conventions of drawing.

Foreshortening -

Distorting objects or parts of an object to create the illusion that one edge is actually closer to your eye.

Shading -

Adding darkness to a surface that is opposite an imaginary light source adds depth to your drawing.

Surface -

Drawing objects or parts of an object lower on the surface of the paper makes them appear closer.

Size -

Generally, objects drawn larger will look closer, except when overlapping.

Overlapping -

Objects drawn in front of others will make the front objects appear closer.

Contour -

Lines wrapped around the outside of an object adds volume and shape to the object.

Density -

Images drawn darker, and with more detail, will appear closer than images drawn lighter and with less detail.