Cross-Hatching Value Scale

Practice cross-hatching in this art lesson: cross-hatching value scale.

🎨 Studio Brief #11

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

🎯 Your mission

Don't erase. Sketch over until it sings.

⚡ 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

Pencils (HB and 2B)Colored pencilsDrawing paper

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

🤯 Drawing the same thing twice usually makes the second one better — and the third one weirder.

🌟 Artist Spotlight

🎨 Quentin Blake (the Roald Dahl illustrator) drew with just one continuous line.

You did it!

Next: Drawing Trees and Landscapes All lessons

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this: Every comic, animation, and architecture started with a quick sketch.

🏆 Try this week: Draw the same object three times this week — once a day, slower each time.

👨‍👩‍👧 At dinner: “Show me your sketch. What's the part you'd do differently next time?”

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Cross-Hatching Value Scale

Techniques you'll practise

You will need

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Cross-Hatching Value Scale

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