Cross-Hatching Value Scale (Part 5)

Practice cross-hatching in this art lesson: cross-hatching value scale (part 5).

🎨 Studio Brief #59

Cross-hatching builds value (light to dark) by layering lines in different directions.

🎯 Your mission

Draw it slow. Then draw it again, faster.

⚡ The twist

No erasing. Mistakes become part of the drawing.

What you'll learn

Cross-hatching builds value (light to dark) by layering lines in different directions. Create a value scale from white to black using only cross-hatched lines.

Get ready

Techniques you'll practise

cross-hatchingvalue scalepen technique

You will need

Drawing paperErasers

Step 1 of 4

Draw 7 boxes in a row. Label them 1 (lightest) to 7 (darkest).

Step 2 of 4

Leave box 1 white. In box 2, draw very light, widely spaced parallel lines.

Step 3 of 4

For each box, add more layers of lines at different angles, closer together.

Step 4 of 4

Box 7 should be nearly solid black with dense cross-hatching in multiple directions.

Did you know?

🤯 Mind = Blown

🤯 The pencil was invented over 400 years ago. Same idea ever since.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 Leonardo da Vinci filled 13,000+ pages of sketchbooks — most just curious doodles.

You did it!

Next: Drawing Trees and Landscapes (Part 5)All lessons

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Cross-Hatching Value Scale (Part 5)

Techniques you'll practise

You will need

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Cross-Hatching Value Scale (Part 5)

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