Looking for some additional technical information on hatching as a drawing technique, a Google search directed me to the Wikipedia entry for Hatching (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatching). To summarize
- “an artistic technique to create tonal or shading effects by drawing […] closely spaced parallel lines
- “when lines are placed at an angle to one another, it is called cross-hatching
- “Hatching is especially important in essentially linear media, such as drawing, and many forms of printmaking, such as engraving..
- “The main concept is that the quantity, thickness and spacing of the lines will affect the brightness of the overall image, and emphasize forms creating the illusion of volume.
- “Hatching lines should always follow (i.e. wrap around) the form. By increasing quantity, thickness and closeness, a darker area will result
- “An area of shading next to another area which has lines going in another direction is often used to create contrast
- “Line work can be used to represent colours, typically by using the same type of hatch to represent particular tones. For example, red might be made up of lightly spaced lines, whereas green could be made of two layers of perpendicular dense lines
I learned that hatching was important as a technique for engravers, who had only lines to represent different shades of tone. I had seen some classical engravings which impressed me a lot, like those by German medieveal artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). The left picture is called ‘Veronica’ and dates back to 1513, the right one is called ‘Praying Hands’ (Betende Hände), c. 1508 (Wikipedia, Dürer).
The most basic technique of hatching/cross hatching consists in drawing layers of parallel lines to create increasingly dark tones (Illustration by Methart.com)
The basic technique is applied in drawings to create tonal shades, like here for a building detail (Lauren Foster) and an apple (About.com):
Hatching can also be used on black scratchboard (Examples by Tania Nault). This reverses the tonality effect: more lines create lighter areas. The scratchboard consists of a layer of black ink on white underground (Product information by Ampersandart.com). A similar effect would result by applying light-coloured pencil on dark paper. I like the effect and would like to try it out as well.
A really nice and ingenious way to teach hatching was applied in an educational project: A group of children in the 4th grade created together a hatched version of a Tut-Ench-Amun photograph. Each child made up to three hatched drawings of sections fromt the enlarged photograph, and then the pieces were put together like a puzzle. (Mrs Hahn’s Art Education Blog) Love the idea.
When I did my first hatching experiments, I just tried out the most basic techniques. But looking at other artist, it becomes evident there is an enormous variety in the techniques and the type of media to which hatching can be applied. I’ll keep my eyes open!
Sources
Wikipedia, Albrecht Dürer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BCrer
Methart.com, Cross-hatching for inkers: http://www.methart.com/tutorials/hatching.html
About.com, Using cross contours in hatching and shading: http://drawsketch.about.com/od/drawinglessonsandtips/ss/crosscontour_5.htm
Lauren Foster, Shading done with hatching: http://ltfoster.blogspot.com/2008/02/shading-done-with-hatching.html
Tania Nault, Scratchboard: http://www.tanianault.ca/thescratchboard/2008/02/12/scratchboard-art-getting-started/
Ampersandart, Scratchboard product information: http://www.ampersandart.com/scratchbord.html
Mrs Hahn’s Art Education Blog: http://minimatisse.blogspot.com/2011/04/hatching-and-cross-hatching-king-tut.html