Drawing Tips- Building up Tones Through Cross Hatching, Shading Tutorial

[SilencedSouls]

Attitude is everything, and you have a great one. :D

[SkewLT]

Thank you so much... :)

[againstdew]

Hi. I was thinking making an time lapse/speed drawing video like that, what camera is what you're using and where is it places?

[FateWulluf]

@nananaNik

All that a Prismacolor black pencil is an oily colored pencil. I'd reccoment going to your local art store and testing out their selections. Some brand nobodys ever heard of can often be the best.

[againstdew]

Hi, how do I know what pencil to use in the different dark spots?

[MunCheeeze]

Dayyumm! My teacher told me that.. that im afraid to shade.. ouch :(

[ONEZOMBIETOOFAR]

thank you soo much merriil i have had no idea what my new art teacher was talking about when she said get a nice soft pencil now thanks to you i now understand that means a dark B shade such as a 5 or 6 B again thank you and for your help you have just earned a subscriber :)

[nananaNikk]

is that darkest pencil (the prismacolor black) only made by the brand prismacolor, because i dont think that brand is available in europe.?

[Mrdumbtaco23]

cant believe i watched your vids for 4 yrs. im am a biggest fan :)

[1995Benzo]

Hello Merrilll! I've watched so many of your videos...feels like i know you...just wanted to say hello...and...THANK YOU!!!

[xLRsT]

why do always good artrists dont write with very good letters?

[kazanjianm]

@xLRsT LOL! I was checking my E-Mail when you left this comment. I got a good laugh. NOBODY can read my handwriting!!!!! Thank you for the compliment! I am honored by it! Sincerely,

Merrill :)

[FreakinYAY]

@kazanjianm OMG same here :D nobody really understands my hand righting but I'm a great artist :P

[ONEZOMBIETOOFAR]

@xLRsT i dont know i have terrible hand writing yet when i draw i do pretty well my friends have a joke saying my hand writing is aramaic hahah you should see it

[92stoner]

@xLRsT

Because the letters (Words) Isn't part of the art, its purely a label or signature.

[92stoner]

@xLRsT

And if you think his handwriting it bad you should see mine! xD I always taught I was dyslectic because it is so bad.

[keter1234]

Nice vid. I LOVE pencils. And I LOVE the sound of pencil on paper... it's that DRAG of carbon on pulp that turns me on. Some people really don't like that.

[dairylandbogurt]

that slip sheet your using is actually so genius! whenever I draw im left with all these smudges and faded out spots from my hand rubbing the page, so I have to darken things and erase others. its all very tedius.

[impinoy123]

you did'nt clearify the f pencil

[TheDefiantWookie]

Is it weird that i love drawing yet u can't stand the sound of a pencil on paper?

[RastaPapaSmurf]

im 16 yrs old and ive been drawing or for years now, my senior yr im gunna be going to an art school, and this has helped me out quite a bit, thank you the tip about drawing straight lines is vary useful, i lost my tortillian and most of my b pencils so i need new art equipment to draw at my full potential, but just using an hb pencil my art teacher has told me ive already surpassed his drawing abililty

[keter1234]

@RastaPapaSmurf Congratulations on going to art school.... prepare for a real "eye opener". I have a wood stove for heat and I take pieces of charcoal out of it to draw with. The pieces make nice rich dark lines. Check out "Drawing Pencil" on Facebook... incredible stuff.

[RastaPapaSmurf]

@keter1234 how is it an eye opener? haha is my drawing freedom and creativity gunna get stripped away from me?

[FingerboardStylez]

why dont you just use a ruler to make straight lines ?

[chrstilen5]

WAW if i can master this drawing... then I'll be a God! ^_^

[50centya1]

why do u get a peace of paper

[Attaxable]

Because of this video about shading , I passed my Shading Test !!

[ThatSilentDude]

my question is how do you know which areas to shade? im new to drawing and im drawing deadpool but i dont know which parts to shade

[Blackdragon1998ful]

I just had one problem. When ever added shading around the helm, thats when i messed up. I used my fingers to do some shading, just make shore that the shading doesn't look like it was done by a pencil.

[haris949]

i love this

[razz0404]

Ive always used my fingers for shading or blending... Guess that thing is better

[shreddedbeats]

b is for soft :/

[bmhyakiri]

@shreddedbeats b is for black...



[insanitystudio]

Im working on a tough drawing right now with lots of different shades.

thanks for the useful video, i am not officially the artist in the house, but i want to get good at drawing, Lucky for me my artist sister leaves all of her different art pencils out for easy "borrowing."

i recognize that helmet from the Two Steps from Hell album- Invincible

is that where you got the idea for your drawing from or is it just a common helmet?

[TheChristian5606]

That's awesome, should do a drawing of master chief from halo the game.

[NeonAstral]

thanks for the paper trick, cheers!

[e32s45]

you are smart, want to know why ?

most other instruction videos are just showing their skills and making you end up feeling incapable. you in the other hand focus on the details that complete your tutoring, example: this piece took me 2hrs(for an expert like me) for you 10hrs so don't rush it.

Perfect.

many thanks

[rann82]

wow wow wow thank you for this great tips i never try to draw something like this i'll try especially because we should avoid draw living things i mean

those who do will be asked in the judgement day to blow a spirit to their drawing of human and animals, and ofc they can not and then will punished :(

[cmphillips1968]

Thanks so much for explaining the pencils, I know it seem simple but I was lost on this and really needed this info, so thank you......

[IHeArTrOcK20]

what's that blending stuff?

[SeriouslyBadElf]

Thank you for your videos

[silverfawkes]

thank you for uploading this.

It really helps me.

[BaldChicken15]

Thx, in my opinion your the best adviser on youtube.

[OneOfTheFire]

how do i shot web!?

[mosi1371]

you are a good instructor!

[TheMrSambino]

dude! this is shit

[MrDarkbreath]

Very nice drawing. Also helped me more with shading :)

[Gundropnipple]

Thanks for video, it help me out a lot. I'm a freshman in high school and thanks to your help i got to a senior art class.

[helmutdiggy]

So helpful, thank you!

[simplengperson]

do you have a tutorial about copying a face from a picture?

I mean sketching the face from the photo to another paper.

[XX46xLUVxINxIT]

amazing i wish i could draw like you

[trueong577]

alright so my shading to make the differnt tones and contrasing the colors looks like shit

[PREZILLA2009]

prettu good dude how do u make a speed run video like that btw??

[lushstrawberry]

thanks for great tutorials, your videos are amazing :)

[lushstrawberry]

thanks for great tutorials, your videos are amazing :)

[DeRaymondMalinga]

dude sounds like steve hawkins,good job otherwise

[xXxC4RN4G3xXx]

wow your a good drawer my brother draws like that too :P i cant draw myself but i suddenly found interest in it and i have noticed it is way harder then it looks lol but anyway nice job man

[Loadedmagsny]

shading is annoying iam just starting at this and i hate shading i cant get it right why???i want to be an expert at it i dont have the right pencils but i will by next week i have some hb, 2b, and 4b.....

[TrueGamer181]

What type of paper do you find to be the best for realistic drawing/ has the least chance of smudging?

[tmnbhat]

0:01



[ckirineo]

1:00

[strambus08]

ur amazing, thanks=]

[Un4s1vpa]

Nice video this will help me a lot in the future thanks and keep up the good work

[skullman646]

What is on your thumb?!?!

[007hellomotto]

i swear i just said shiting resource

[MMAMangaka012]

Hey, merrill-sensei! Awesome video, and its really helpful, but I must ask, what happened on your right thumb?

[furiousjuffowup]

Thank you for making a really great video not to mention how inspirational it is it gives me confidence to try and work harder at it thank you : )

[JamesBond32323]

Thank you for saying how long it took you. I thought I was the only one who took forever on a drawing and a bad one at that

[iSnAtsMikEL]

hey what's that blending stuff? what's the name of that, and where can i get that? sorry i'm new in drawing and i want to learn :)

[kazanjianm]

@iSnAtsMikEL Its often referred to as a tortillion. It is just a stump of paper shaped like a pencil. It is sold in most art supply stores.

[Epicocitygaming]

@kazanjianm smudge stick :P tortillion is the fancy verion lol

[danslatente]

@iSnAtsMikEL Or... you can make one yourself by winding paper really tightly around and around and using the point. :P

[iSnAtsMikEL]

@danslatente thanks, i had made one!

[DearsRenRen]

@iSnAtsMikEL If you cant find that blending thing, than you can make one yourself by rolling up a little bit of tussue-paper and using it as a blending tool :) that's what i do because i don't know where to buy one :)

I hope i helped :D and sorry for my bad english :)

[361983200]

@iSnAtsMikEL Tortillion, but I prefer calling it a tortilla.

[Unsharpened]

Hmm Very nice video.

Some other pencils that can be used:

9B and 9H

Ebony pencil by Design - Jet Black - Extra smooth

Something I have in my arsenal of Drawing Pencils:

Pentalic- Woodless Pencils they range from 2b -9b. Its a solid piece of graphic encased in plastic and leaves a super dark line. Usually around 2-4 Dollars(US) each.

Blending Stumps - Tortillions(always reminded me of miniature Chinese Yo-Yos)and an Artist Chamois

[Pyrocraker]

what is this blending stomp thing? im from germany and don´t realy understand ..so could you pls explain it to me? that would be great thx :)

[kazanjianm]

@Pyrocraker SORRY! for the late response Its often referred to as a tortillion. It is just a stump of paper shaped like a pencil. It is sold in most art supply stores.

[bassamry]

awesome man again :)

the more harder the pencil was, the harder it will be to erased?

im not professional like u and the other in utube..but i do try and try, and i feel the improvement...i think that one day i'll be like u :)

[kazanjianm]

yes, the higher number H's are extremely difficult to erase, BUT I wouldsay that the high # B pencils are equally difficult to erase. The middle of the range is easiest to erase.

[macammel]

mmmm....those poeple said,u have to mem'rize the whole figure before u're about to draw something that u want...isn't true?...i'm still thinking of it mr. merrill.....please teach me where and how to start a drawing....thanks u very much....(=

[kazanjianm]

No prob! It is my MISSION to contribute quality art instruction! (since so many art jobs are disappearing in schools)..... I do not have the whole figure perfectly memorized. I depend on reference(model) images a lot from google image search etc. I will send you one of my first tutorials that will teach you how to start a drawing. You only need to watch the beginning.

[macammel]

thank you sir. merrill....i'll wait for your first tuitorials to be send......thanks again sir....(=

[kingsnoboards23]

does the pencil make ALL the difference in shading? or can a good artist make it look pretty professional with just a regular pencil

[kazanjianm]

Definitely a good artist can create a more lifelike image......But you cant build the darkest tones with just a regular number 2 pencil.....The B's give you more depth....Then again, relativity is more important to shading than depth.

[macammel]

@kingsnoboards23 such a good and very skilled artist,i wish could able like u....a very talented person i've ever seen in my entire life......amazing....before my ambition is to become a good artist...but i've lost it....my only desire was vanished with the wind....

=(....

yet,u are my inspiration to stand and make a new start again for my life....(=

[kingsnoboards23]

im ur inspiriation?

[macammel]

@kingsnoboards23 absolutely,yes sir....you are......

[musiictube]

did you use a tortillion? And where can 1 get them?

[kazanjianm]

Yes, I would look online. I have a section on my website called "supplies I use" with some good links....you might like that!

-Merrill

[MisterEffectDenis]

how is that darkest pencil called?

[kazanjianm]

Its the Prismacolor Black Pencil.

[loonybin1125]

Great vid! It was very helpful and informative! :3

[skinz1234]

i tried to write u 3 times now and send u a link to my fav artists pages, didnt post? Thank You so much for taking some time away from your hobbies to write me :) These pictures from these artists links thats i will send you just seem alive!!! how can a picture captivate someone like that??? I MEAN IM FASCINATED AND WANNA GIVE IT BACK TO THEM!!! check out the characters and the artists galleries if u ever get a chance. Thanks so much for the vid ill think bout your advice next pic i draw ;)

[skinz1234]

O man it must be so great to be able to show others what you see in your mind by creating it on paper, its like the totally being able to express yourself! I have these great pictures in my head and a great fanasy but when i try to draw them its a sad :D but when i watch you i know its possible to maybe be able to do it myself someday and it gives me hope, Thanks Man :)

[kazanjianm]

I have gotten a lot better from my head but I still use photo references (especially for foreshortening). Im happy to help, let me know if you have any more questions! Thanks for all of the kind comments! (Sent the video)

-Merrill

[skinz1234]

Also you said you figured out the shapes in the picture? There are so many, what do you mean? There is no way to memorize all those shapes unless your Super Brain :)

[kazanjianm]

Memorize!!! No way!!! Im like the Ellen DeGeneris fish in finding Nemo! LOL......I see the shapes from observation. I will send you a video....just watch the beginning to see what I mean!

[skinz1234]

How u doing? I went to your site and typed in Shading Resource into the search field and got an error? I found the helmet picture on my own tho and still dont see where i can print the resource? Thanks for the vid tho, GREAT STUFF! :)

[kazanjianm]

Yeah I still have to do a PDF for that one. Its going to happen. What you could do in the mean time is right click on the image while it is opening and save it and print it.....Thank you for checking out my site and my channel!

-Merrill :)

[Umbraeku]

I can't stay away from mechanical pencils, I just love them so much, at least when it comes to sketching something lightly.

[Umbraeku]

I do this funky thing where I "feather" lines I think I heard my art teacher once call it. I constantly layer quick, light lines to get my image and basically shave it with an eraser.

Probably why I like mechanical pencils so much.

[Umbraeku]

Another great example of shading, thx. XD

[kazanjianm]

No problem! I love teaching and creating art! Im glad that it helps!

-Merrill :)

[SlightlyWetFart]

Thanks very much. You're a good teacher.

[kazanjianm]

Im glad that it helped!!!!

-Merrill

[BlueGoriya]

If you don't mind a bit of criticism, you seem to be neglecting your core shadows.

[kazanjianm]

I always appreciate feedback! :)

[UGHUNTZ18]

now i want a blending stump.

[kazanjianm]

They are very helpful!

[CyverAsesino]

thanks from mexico

this is very helpfull

[kazanjianm]

Not a problem! Sorry about the late reply!!!!

-Merrill

[mrlmao007]

does any one have tips on shading a whole face?

[kazanjianm]

Tons!....Try the video called "Lebron James Shading Tutorial EXTENDED"..You might especially like that one (basketball fan or not).....Check out all of my "YOUDRAW" series.....Every video has shading tips in the second half of the video.

[kazanjianm]

I like Picasso's mentality about the "right" way.

[kazanjianm]

(continued) Its a teachers job to pass on the most effective techniques collected from history. It is equally important for a teacher to realize that with art there are multiple ways to solve the drawing equation. If any teacher tells you that there is only one way to draw, I would caution you on listening to them......And any deficits in any work can be corrected with creativity (such as using photoshop to adjust the tones). I value your opinion and I enjoy this conversation that we are having!

[kazanjianm]

Picky! Picky! (All artists have strong opinions and I respect that) .....Think about this though: all artistic materials/techniques are tools used to create a visual expression. The hatching techniques were necessary at a time when the original works were supposed to be framed and last forever. The oils on the hand would affect the ability to add tones and damage the paper (the same was said for erasing). My work ends up being of a higher quality when I use the stump....(more)

[kazanjianm]

My teachers said the same thing, but it (the stump) always worked better with me.....like you said, its a matter of taste and preference.

[JPowell86]

Merrill,

Okay, thats good to know, i still am having a difficult time figuring out how to use this technique on my own drawings, within the next week or two ill put up a slide show of some of the drawings ive done using it and if your feeling up to it, id like it if you could take a look and tell me what you think..? i just have to do a few more drawings.

[kazanjianm]

I would be happy to!

[GermFreeEagle]

thats was amzing!

[JPowell86]

great lesson, thank you, i was just told about cross hatching by a friend of mine about an hour ago and thought id look into it, i only have one question, i have a VERY tight budget, and im pretty partial to mechanical pencils, can you do this with mechanical pencils? if not, what would you reccomend?

thanks,

-Joey

[Zyandian]

"Rule #1: NEVER USE MECHANICAL PENCILS in traditional art esp in my class!"

Lol, my art teacher confiscated away my mechanical pencil and gave me some free pencils ranging from the light to dark.

I got stuck with that rule ever since.

And Faber Castell is the best quality for drawing purposes.

[Zyandian]

and oh, the reason being is that Mechanical pencils just cant quite give the tones right.

[kazanjianm]

Joey,

Mechanical pencils are IDEAL! You just have to look for the different tones to insert inside (for example 4B, HB , 4H etc.). I think that they are better than regular pencils, especially for detail work and hatching.

-Merrill :)

[aly2222222228888]

wow this is very helpful video. I was wondering if you could look at my video and give me some tips on how to draw and sketch better.

[kazanjianm]

Done!

[ironman127b]

wow this was a huge help!

thanks big time!

[kazanjianm]

Not a problem! Im glad it helped!

-Merrill :)

[Yugiohrocker189]

quite insightful, mon amie, thank you for pointing out my era, i rushed too much and is why i do not get the tones i desire, that and i am not properly equipped and i kinda go crazy with the pressure XD dont we all? lol thanks again, mon amie! ce la vie!

[kazanjianm]

Merci Yugiohrocker189! Je suis content que ce soit aidé!

-Merrill

[heprebel]

thanks for posting this. i've been working a little more with graphite. the tips were much needed.!!

[kazanjianm]

Thank you for the continued support heprebel!

-Merrill

[GamingSponge]

Nice video, very helpful.

[kazanjianm]

Im glad it helped! Im about to start on a series of painting videos now...If you ever have questions, I always try to answer my comments! Thanks again!

-Merrill

[razorisland]

very good drawing tutorial .. look forward to more. I paint, do digital art (Photoshop), photography .. now look forward to learning how to sketch. Thanx

[kazanjianm]

razorisland,

I always answer my comments (sometimes it takes me a little bit of time). So let me know if you ever have any questions!

-Merrill

[wk2315a]

Hi Merrill

love this vid, I'm even gonna give it a try

as always, warm regards Merlin

[kazanjianm]

Merlin,

You will be proud of me..My next video (that I will publish tonight) is very heavy on digital painting.....I am starting to get the hang of it. Much easier with a tablet than with a mouse!!!! Thank you for the continued support!

-Merrill

[dillonstars]

An easy way to remember pencil gradings is that H is for Hard and B is for Black

[kazanjianm]

Im posting that (annotation) in the video....Thats a great way to remember it.

-Merrill

[Lusa5]

Do you wear a helmet with a camera stuck at the top of it?

[kazanjianm]

Lusa!

LOL! I have a wood beam on my ceiling that I drilled a hole through and connected to my camcorder! It was quite the effort to get the screw through...but it makes it easy now

-Kazm????ian

[Lusa5]

Do you or your wife ever accidentally walk into it and get knocked out for a few hours???

[kazanjianm]

Oh please! Shes gone OD with the safety since the baby was born! Its over a table and I have to climb up to fasten the camera. Everything is babyproofed! Mothers....you gotta love them!!!!

[Lusa5]

hee hee. I don't know about me. but I bet you do X3..me...ow...

oh my god speaking of loving I finaly get to see my hubby after 6 months O_O YES!!!!!!!

lol...nice video by the way XD

[kazanjianm]

Thank you!

-Merrill

[punkrockbfs]

nice, mines is from 6b to 6h though, dont know where to get higher ones :P

[kazanjianm]

Wow! I just googled 10B....That exists....And then 12B that exists too.....In my opinion, 6B and 8B are so close......I barely see a difference with those 2. I wonder if there is a difference with 10B and 12B (and how similar they are to a prisma black and an ebony pencil)

[punkrockbfs]

lol i dont know when I'll every need a 10B penicl, nor will I use a 12B, Must be really dark

[OwnageHobbit]

Can i just ask Why the tape? But awesomeeee aswell

[kazanjianm]

When you hatch, the paper tends to go all over the place. The tape keeps it in place.

-Merrill

[BayBeeFeet]

Thanks these are very helpful tips.

[kazanjianm]

My pleasure! I love teaching art (And making art even more)!

-Merrill

[TehRealDinnin]

Love it, Freaking love it :)

<3 Very helpful man, your the boss.

[kazanjianm]

Im the boss? Uh oh!!!! If I ruled the world .......the little old man from my youtube channel homepage would be my vice president. Thanks for the kind words!

-Merrill

[nathannaquin]

Nice

It looks just like the photo

[kazanjianm]

Thanks nathannaquin!

-Merrill