Level: Beginner

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 7.4

Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease: 65.6
Drawspace Curriculum 1.1.A10 - 4 Pages and 8 Illustrations

Get the Point of

Shading Values
Use five grades of pencils and three pencil points to
create a reference guide of values and textures

Supplies: drawing paper with a medium tooth, graphite

pencils (2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B), pencil sharpener,
sandpaper block ArtSpeak
Resource: 1.1.A8 Experiment with Pencil Points Drawing space: The specific
perimeter in which a drawing is
This activity has four sections: rendered.
• Outline Drawing Spaces Landscape format: (also called
horizontal format) A rectangular
• Shade Five Values with a Sharp Point
drawing space with the two longer
• Shade Five Values with a Rounded Point sides at the top and bottom.
• Shade Five Values with a Chisel Point Chisel point: (also called flat point)
A versatile shape on the working
end of a pencil that has both a sharp

Outline Drawing Spaces edge and a flat, angled surface.

Rounded Point: A smooth, rounded
tip on the working end of a pencil,
1. Use a ruler and an HB pencil to lightly usually created with a sandpaper
outline a 5 by 3 in (12.7 by 7.6 cm) rectangle block.
with a landscape format (Figure 1). Sharp Point: A pointed tip on
the working end of a pencil that
2. Use a ruler to measure and then mark is usually created with a pencil
four dots, 1 in (2.54 cm) apart, along each sharpener and/or sandpaper block.
horizontal side of the rectangle. Hatching: A series of lines (called a
set) drawn closely together to give
Measure each distance from left to right so the the illusion of values.
dots line up vertically.

ISBN: 978-1-77193-179-3
Copyright © 2018 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. Individual use: no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, transferred, or transmitted in any format or by any means without the prior written
consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing. Educator use: Permission to copy or distribute in any format or by any means is limited to classroom use only.
2 1.1.A10: Get the Point of Shading Values

3. Measure and mark two dots, 1 in (2.54 cm) apart, along

each vertical side of the rectangle.
ArtSpeak
4. Use a ruler to connect dots that are opposite one
Texture: The surface
details of an object another along the sides of the rectangle.
that can be identified
You now have 15 square drawing spaces in which you can
by sight, touch, and/or
a general knowledge shade your values/textures. To help you stay on track as
of the subject. you shade, refer to Figure 1 and mark the:
Values: (also called • grade of each pencil above its column.
tones) The various
shades of gray in
• name of each type of pencil point to the left of its row.
an artwork. A broad
Figure 1
range of values is
achieved by using
different grades
of pencils, and by
Sharp
varying the density of Point
the shading lines and
the pressure used on
the pencil.
Rounded
Point

Caution! Chisel
Point
Make sure you use
the same amount of
pressure on each of
your pencils to create
the 15 values.
Otherwise, you might
Shade Five Values with a Sharp Point
not end up with a
range of different
5. Use a pencil sharpener to sharpen a 2H, HB, 2B, 4B,
values/textures. and 6B pencil to a sharp point (Figure 2).

6. Use a 2H pencil to draw a set of straight hatching lines

Figure 2 in the upper-left square (Figure 3).
Figure 3

ISBN: 978-1-77193-179-3
Copyright © 2018 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. Individual use: no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, transferred, or transmitted in any format or by any means without the prior written
consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing. Educator use: Permission to copy or distribute in any format or by any means is limited to classroom use only.
 1.1.A10: Get the Point of Shading Values 3

7. Use an HB 2B, 4B, and 6B pencil in turn to continue shading the other four
squares in this row (Figure 4).
Figure 4
The first row
now has
five different
values
created with
sharp pencil
points.

Shade Five Values Figure 5

with a Rounded Point

1. Sharpen a 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencil to a rounded
point (Figure 5).

2. Use a rounded point and the same process used in the

previous section to hatch five values in the second
row (Figure 6).
Figure 6
The
second
row now
has five
different
values
created
with
rounded
points.

Figure 7

Shade Five Values with a Chisel Point

1. Use a sandpaper block to create a flat edge on a 2H,
HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencil (Figure 7).

2. Use a chisel point and the same process to hatch five

values in the third row (Figure 8).

ISBN: 978-1-77193-179-3
Copyright © 2018 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. Individual use: no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, transferred, or transmitted in any format or by any means without the prior written
consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing. Educator use: Permission to copy or distribute in any format or by any means is limited to classroom use only.
4 1.1.A10: Get the Point of Shading Values

You now have a total of 15 values.

Figure 8

Challenge! Tip!
Step back from your drawing a little and compare A difference in values occurs when a
each row to the others. Identify the row with the: pencil point causes more or less white
1. darkest overall values. paper to show through your shading.

2. lightest overall values. • Sharp point: has a tiny tip, which

deposits graphite both on top of the
3. smoothest textures (suitable for shading a flat, bumps and deep into the crevasses
smooth surface) of the paper.
4. roughest textures (suitable for shading a
• Rounded point: has a medium-sized
slightly bumpy or uneven surface).
tip, which deposits graphite on top of
Did you identify a row with each value or texture? the bumps and into only the larger
• If your answer is no: try this activity again. crevasses.
• If (or When) your answer is yes: you have • Chisel point: has a broad flat tip,
successfully created a reference guide for which deposits graphite on top of
shading the values and textures of a broad the bumps and into only a few of the
range of different drawing subjects. largest crevasses.

ISBN: 978-1-77193-179-3
Copyright © 2018 Drawspace Publishing and Brenda Hoddinott. All rights reserved. Individual use: no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, transferred, or transmitted in any format or by any means without the prior written
consent of Brenda Hoddinott and Drawspace Publishing. Educator use: Permission to copy or distribute in any format or by any means is limited to classroom use only.