Animals - Graphite and Wire
GRAPHITE PENCIL SHADING
Vocabulary to know:
Graphite Pencil - traditional art tool used for drawing and shading and comes in a variety of hardness and softness… (an HB pencil is equivalent to a standardized #2 pencil)
6H 4H 2H H HB 2B 4B 6B
← Lighter Mid-Tone Darker →
**More pencils DO exist (8H, 3H, F, 5B, 9B, etc.) if you would ever need another value**
Value = lights and darks of a color that show depth and dimension in a 2D work of art…. Highlights and shadows that can be achieve literally in a 3D work of art or through shading techniques in a 2D work of art.
Shading Techniques = Blending, Cross-Hatching, Hatching, Stippling, Scumbling… ways to use a pencil to apply value to a 2D work of art.
Texture = literal texture in which the surface of art is intentionally uneven through organic means or planned pattern (i.e. rough, bumpy, geometric pattern, etc.). Texture in two-dimensional drawings is added through the use of line
Contour Line - the practice of drawing using single lines to outline objects and their details rather than sketchy, rugged textured lines. Continuous Contour implies the outline and details are created with one single, continuous line that is unbroken in any area.
Still Life - a composition comprised of still, inanimate objects that are placed and rearranged for the purpose of observational drawing
Observational Drawing - the method of drawing that focuses on drawing from real life rather than from a photo
Composition = the placement and arrangement of artistic elements, the “ingredients”, in a work of art to create an visually aesthetic piece of artwork that can elicit an emotion from the viewer, whether positive or negative. “Putting together” pieces of a concept that create a unique and original visual experience
2B... or not 2B?
"H" indicates Hardness. The higher the H number, the harder the graphite, therefore the lighter the value. Example: 9H is lighter and harder than 2H.
These H pencils can be used to etch and emboss in to the paper to achieve built in highlights, such as whiskers, hair, grass, or other areas needing to be lighter than others.
Be careful: unintended pressure can be a downfall in a drawing and leave marks you don't want.
"B" indicates Blackness. The higher the B number, the softer and blacker the graphite, therefore the darker the value. Example, 8B is softer and darker than 2B.
These pencils are used to achieve dark values to bring depth in to a drawing.
Be careful: because if you go too dark to fast you will get what's called a "waxy bloom", which is a bright glossy look that is very difficult to photograph. To eliminate this, start with a lighter H or B pencil and built up layers.
HB = Regular #2 pencil
B = #1 Pencil
F = Fine pencil
9H 8H 7H 6H 5H 4H 3H 2H H F B HB 2B 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 9B
Types of Shading Techniques
Blending: Smooth covering of graphite or colored pencil, either achieved through tortillions, blending sticks, baby oil, or colorless pencil blenders. Although, with colored pencils, you can simply blend the colors together without the use of a blending agent.
Hatching: the use of parallel lines to create light or dark values, depending on the pressure used when making the line and the compactness of the lines (the closer and darker they are, the darker the value)
Cross Hatching: similar to Hatching, but lines are going in different directions.
Scumbling: the use of controlled scribbling to achieve dark or light values. The more compact and tighter the "scribbles", the darker the value
Stippling: tiny dots used to achieve light and dark values. This technique is less frustrating with a larger tipped drawing tool: crayon, marker, oil pastel, chalk pastel, etc.; however, pencil and pen are always acceptable, as well.
FORM SHADING
Please see the image that details a spherical form with correct highlights and shadows.
As stated above, starting with a lighter pencil is key to avoid the waxy bloom and any unnecessary marks that may need to be erased later on. Starting lighter and GENTLY helps the layering process. In the image, you can see all the labels that coordinate with parts of the sphere:
Center Light - the light area in between the highlight and the edge of the object
Highlight - the lightest part of the object from the light source
Halftones - the mid range value next to the highlight
Core Shadow - the darkest part of the sphere
Reflected Light - the area of the form that includes a reflection from the table surface
Occlusion Shadow - the darkest part of the surface the object is sitting on
Cast Shadow - the majority of the shadow that is cast upon the table from the object itself
When you complete your task, you may use any of the shading techniques and any type of form (it does not have to be a sphere).
YOUR TASKS:
Graphite Pencil Exercise (done in class)
8-point-value scale for Blending, Cross-Hatching, Hatching, Scumbling, Stippling, AND one of your own invention. Total of 6 value scales. This can be on ONE page.
1 shaded form that shows all the correct highlights and shadows, whether a sphere or another form. Surface must be included (table).
These can both be can be on ONE page.
PROJECTS:
One drawing of any animal within its environment that shows a range of at least 10 different VALUES of pencil shading using any or all shading techniques. Consider the rules of composition when creating your drawing.
One contour wire outline of the animal that has been created by overlaying the wire ontop of the drawing. In order to save the drawing, you will redraw the animal's contour (main and detailed outlines with no shading) onto another separate sheet. Then, you will "trace" the animal with armature wire to create a contour "drawing" using the wire.
These two projects show the Elements of Art: VALUE, TEXTURE, and LINE
