Tapered Lines. Shade Shapes with. Practice Drawing Sets of Tapered Lines

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Marcus Shepherd
5 years ago
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Level: Beginner Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.54 Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 61.

1.A11-8 Pages and 17 Illustrations Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Outline various shapes with contour lines and use a rounded pencil point to add smooth shading with tapered lines Resources: 1.1.A5 Find Your Natural Hand Movements 1.

Supplies: drawing paper with a smooth-to-medium tooth, 2B and/or 4B graphite pencils, kneaded and vinyl erasers, pencil sharpener, sandpaper block This activity has four sections: Practice Drawing

1 Level: Beginner Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.54 Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.A11-8 Pages and 17 Illustrations Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Outline various shapes with contour lines and use a rounded pencil point to add smooth shading with tapered lines Resources: 1.1.A5 Find Your Natural Hand Movements 1.1.A7 Rotate Your Paper to Draw a Shape 1.1.R7 Check Up On the Tooth of Paper 1.1.R16 The Magic of Tapered Lines ArtSpeak Set of lines: A grouping of several lines mostly used to create shading. Supplies: drawing paper with a smooth-to-medium tooth, 2B and/or 4B graphite pencils, kneaded and vinyl erasers, pencil sharpener, sandpaper block This activity has four sections: Practice Drawing Sets of Tapered Lines Practice Shading Shapes with Straight Lines Practice Shading Shapes with Curved Lines Shade Two Shapes with Curved Tapered Lines Practice Drawing Sets of Tapered Lines Your first goal in practicing sets of tapered lines is to find your own rhythm, which happens naturally after lots of practice. Shading can be rendered with any type of pencil point. A rounded pencil point creates wider shading lines than a sharp point, and more easily fills the spaces between the lines. To create a rounded point on your pencil: Step 1: Sharpen the pencil to a sharp point. Step 2: Gently rub the point on a sandpaper block while rotating the pencil between your fingers until it becomes rounded. Step 3: Make a few marks on a piece of scrap paper until any remaining sharp edges are worn smooth.

2 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Straight lines are easier to taper than curved lines because you only need to think about moving your pencil in one direction.

Without tapered lines, your shading might be blemished with ugly dark stripes where the lines and/or values overlap.

Step 2: Without lifting your pencil from the paper, gradually add more pressure. Step 3: Gradually ease off the pressure while you slowly lift your pencil from the paper. 1.

2 2 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Straight lines are easier to taper than curved lines because you only need to think about moving your pencil in one direction. Curved lines, on the other hand, gradually switch direction. Always taper the shading lines when you want smooth shading. Without tapered lines, your shading might be blemished with ugly dark stripes where the lines and/or values overlap. As an Aside Individual tapered lines can be rendered in three simple steps: Step 1: Gently and slowly swing your pencil down onto the paper. Step 2: Without lifting your pencil from the paper, gradually add more pressure. Step 3: Gradually ease off the pressure while you slowly lift your pencil from the paper. 1. Draw several random sets of straight and curved tapered lines that slant in different directions. Your goal is to become comfortable with using your natural hand motion and rotating your paper. The process may feel awkward and tedious at first, but don t give up! With lots of practice, you ll soon be drawing gorgeous sets of tapered lines without even thinking about the process. You can use tapered lines to shade a shape by: carefully shading inside the shape s outlines (Figure 1). allowing shading lines to extend beyond the outlines (Figure 2), with the option of erasing the unwanted lines later (Figure 3). Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines 3 Practice Shading Shapes with Straight Lines Figure 4 2. Draw any simple shape with straight lines. 3. Add the first set of tapered shading lines with parallel, straight lines.

3 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines 3 Practice Shading Shapes with Straight Lines Figure 4 2. Draw any simple shape with straight lines. 3. Add the first set of tapered shading lines with parallel, straight lines. The lines can slant in any direction. In Figure 4, the vertical shading lines extend outside the shape s edges. You also have the option of drawing the lines inside your shape (this is more challenging). Caution! Do not press firmly with your pencil! Instead of a smoothly shaded value, you ll end up with a shape filled with ugly blobs of different values. Heavy-handed pressure can totally flatten the tooth of the paper until additional sets of tapered lines (additional layers of graphite) have nothing to grab hold of. Check over your shading in between steps and identify sections that are not totally smooth. Additional tapered lines can easily be added at any stage to improve the smoothness of shading. 4. Draw additional sets of tapered lines until the shape is fully shaded (Figures 5 and 6). Some artists prefer to taper each new set of lines toward and into a previous set. Other artists prefer to taper a new set of lines over top of and away from a previous set. Experiment until you find the most comfortable technique that also gives you the best results. Then, you only need to remind yourself to continually rotate your paper so you are always using your natural hand motion.

4 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 In

4 4 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 In Figure 7, the rogue lines have been erased with the sharp edge of a vinyl eraser. 5. Outline additional shapes and shade them in with tapered lines until you are comfortable with the process. Practice Shading Shapes with Curved Lines 6. Draw any simple shape with curved lines. The contours of this shape determine the directionality of the curved, tapered lines.

1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines 5 7. Draw the first set of tapered lines beginning on the left (Figure 8). Figure 8 If you are left-handed, you may prefer to begin on the right.

Additional lines gradually curve in the direction of the shape s right side (3). 4. When you reach the contour line on the far right, the lines follow its contour (4). 5.

The first set of tapered lines drawn inside a shape outlined with curved lines should be kept very light. This first set is rarely pretty.

5 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines 5 7. Draw the first set of tapered lines beginning on the left (Figure 8). Figure 8 If you are left-handed, you may prefer to begin on the right. Modify the following instructions accordingly: 1. The lines follow the curve of the shape s left side (1). 2. New lines gradually straighten until you get to the center of the shape (2). 3. Additional lines gradually curve in the direction of the shape s right side (3). 4. When you reach the contour line on the far right, the lines follow its contour (4). 5. Use the same process to draw additional sets of tapered lines above or below the first set. In Figure 9, the second set is added below the first. The first set of tapered lines drawn inside a shape outlined with curved lines should be kept very light. This first set is rarely pretty. You are simply finding your way along the contours of the imaginary forms of this shape. As you add this first layer of shading, imagine the lines as thin rope wrapping itself around a threedimensional object (rather than a shape drawn on a flat sheet of paper). Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure Continue adding sets of tapered lines until the shape is filled in with an even tone (Figures 10 and 11).

6 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Figure 12 Shade Two Shapes with Curved Tapered Lines Figure 13 7. Use curved lines to outline the two shapes shown in Figure 12. 8.

6 6 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Figure 12 Shade Two Shapes with Curved Tapered Lines Figure Use curved lines to outline the two shapes shown in Figure Draw the first set of shading lines with curved tapered lines. Remember to continually rotate your paper so you are always using your natural hand motion. 9. Add additional sets of tapered lines (Figures 13 to 16). As you work, continuously go back over your drawing and adjust sections to make them more accurate. Self-correction is integral to drawing independently.

fill in any white spaces between the lines in the previous set.

7 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines 7 Figure 14 The lines in each new set should: extend beyond the previous set in several places. overlap some or all of the previous lines. merge seamlessly into one another. fill in any white spaces between the lines in the previous set. Figure 15 To smooth out a section of shading: Use your pencil to carefully fill in any sections that are white or too light. Use a kneaded eraser molded to a very thin wedge to gently pat lines that are too dark.

8 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Figure 16 10. Touch up any sections of shading that aren t smooth. 11.

8 8 1.1.A11: Shade Shapes with Tapered Lines Figure Touch up any sections of shading that aren t smooth. 11. Use a kneaded eraser to carefully erase sections of shading that have accidently wandered outside the outlines of the shape. A few lines almost always escape beyond a shape s edges. Figure 17 Pat yourself on the back, put a big smile on your face, and create another drawing shaded with tapered lines.

A smaller drawing space in proportion to these sizes works just as well.

A smaller drawing space in proportion to these sizes works just as well. Level: Beginner to Intermediate Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.2 Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 62.6 Drawspace Curriculum 7.1.A6-8 Pages and 17 Illustrations Curly Camilla the SEAHORSE Outline a seahorse