Exercise 6.3 Drawing with Hatching/Crosshatching

For this exercise, you will be copying a drawing done by Vincent van Gogh. Your drawing should be roughly 5.5 x 8.5 inches in size. You will try to emulate the style of hatching/cross hatching, which van Gogh used to create the shading in this drawing.

Materials needed:

• Pencils – 4H and 4B
• White eraser

Time to complete: 45 minutes

Instructions:

1. Your drawing should be roughly 5.5 x 8.5 inches in size.
2. First, the image needs to be carefully measured and a light line drawing of the main elements should be done with a 4H pencil.
3. Once the overall proportions, measurements, and angles look correct, then slowly go in and replicate the shading and other line work with a 4B pencil.

Things to consider:

1. It may be a good idea to practice the hatching lines prior to applying them to your drawing. When doing so, observe how the sharpness of the pencil point and pencil angle affect the line width. Also, take into account how hard pushing on the paper with your pencil can create dark and light lines.
2. Pay attention to the direction and curvature of the hatching lines used for shading various areas. Note how the hatching lines can add shape, texture, and shade to a drawing.