The Technique

Hatching uses groups of parallel lines to create light and dark areas. The closer the lines are together, the darker the shading appears.

It is one of the oldest and most widely used drawing techniques. With only a pencil and a few simple lines, artists can create form, texture, and depth.

Used For

Sketches, illustrations, comics, architecture drawings, nature studies, and adding texture to almost any subject.

You Can Try

Use vertical lines, diagonal lines, curved lines, widely spaced lines, or tightly packed lines. Change the spacing to create different shades.

Your Turn

Observe the example, practise drawing groups of parallel lines, then experiment with different line spacing in the Shading Toolkit.