Creating
graphite drawings requires a certain amount of patience,
since it requires blending. Working with graphite
involves layering the pigments, building it until
you reach the level of darkness you want. As mentioned
in the previous article, when beginning a drawing
you should start by protecting the white areas, and
then begin applying your darker values. The darkest
areas of your drawing will require the most layering.
As you proceed you can use various materials to begin
blending the darkest areas into the middle shades
of gray. You can achieve different looks depending
on the materials you use to blend the graphite.
Common
materials used for shading:
CHAMOIS,
SOFT CLOTH, OR PAPER TOWEL - All of these create
nice soft shading which works well for skin and some
clothing. Chamois is a type of soft washable leather.
If you use cloth, remember it may leave a slight texture
because of the weave of the material. A soft, durable
2-ply paper towel like Viva blends graphite very smoothly.
All of these hold and apply the pigment very well,
especially on large areas.
TORTILLONS AND BLENDING STUMPS
- Tortillons are just small specially rolled
sticks of paper that form a point. Blending stumps
are similar except they are longer, and made from
pressed paper and usually have a point on both ends.
Both are excellent for blending small areas. Blending
stumps come in several different diameters. Both of
these can have very firm points when they are new
and it takes a while to break them in. If the points
on your Tortillons or blending stumps is too hard
you can soften it by rubbing it on your sanding board.
After use these will hold graphite, and that can be
useful for shading small sections in your drawing.
FINGERS
- Definitely the oldest blending instrument!
However, fingers art not the best choice for your
drawing because of the oils in your skin. For example,
I have handled a clean piece of paper and accidentally
touched the surface with my fingers. When I started
applying the graphite there, it stuck quite prominently
to my finger prints. I could not even erase it, and
my shading always looked slightly darker where the
graphite clung to the oils left by my skin. So, stick
to using cloth, chamois, or tortillons.
Blending
and shading is accomplished in two main ways. First
is to rub your tool of choice (Chamois, blending stump,
etc) around an area where you have already applied
graphite with your pencil. Not only does this soften
these areas but it picks up extra graphite that can
then be applied to the lighter gray areas of your
drawing. Another way to shade is by using your pencils
to apply graphite to the shadows. If you do this make
sure you use pencils with softest leads and make light
strokes. Only use heavier strokes when you want the
pencil lines to stay visual for a textured effect.
Make sure you keep your strokes going in all the same
direction and follow the direction indicated by the
lighting. For example if you are applying a shadow
that occurs under the chin of your subject, you would
want to make downward stokes, not side to side. Follow
the cast of the shadow. After shading with a soft
pencil it can be blended with any tool. Each blending
tool will produce a different look. Be aware that
shading with pencils creates harder shadows then applying
the graphite to a cloth and then to your paper.
| |
Graphite
added to blending tools, then applied to paper. |
|
Graphite
added to paper with pencils, then blended with
tool. |
|
Blending
Stump
Soft
Paper Towel
(Used for blending other graphite, then shaded
here.)
Soft
Paper Towel
(Powdered graphite applied directly to the towel
lays down more pigment.) |
 |
Blending
Stump (NEW)
Blending
Stump (OLD)
Soft
Paper Towel
Finger
Tortillon |
 |
Textured
Dark,
soft texture
Softest
Blend
Soft
Blend
Textured |
Now
you have some shading basics. Once you have added
shadows however you need to clean up those white
areas and perhaps add other highlights to your drawing.
Erasers are the answer, and their different varieties
and uses will be discussed in the next article.
