Objective: Students will use line to create texture and value in a scratchboard drawing of a mythical creature.

Creating value and texture with line

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VALUE

Value refers to lightness or darkness.

You will be using line to create lighter areas and darker areas in your drawing, so that they help create the illusion of 3-dimensional form.
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TEXTURE

Texture refers to the feel of a surface, or in a drawing, the illusion of that feeling (i.e.: rough, smooth, furry, etc.)

You will use line to create the illusion of texture, or implied texture.

Your assignment:

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Use scratchboard to create a detailed drawing of a mythical creature and its environment.

You will have to use the element of LINE to create VALUE and TEXTURE in your drawing.

process:

Step one: sketch your design

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Quick Thumbnail Sketches

Begin in your sketchbook with several quick, thumbnail sketches of a creature or several different creatures.  Work out what you will draw and how you will draw it.  
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9x12 Rough Sketch

After several thumbnail drawings, create a larger, detailed rough sketch of your animal as well as its surroundings.  Your drawing should fill a sheet of 9x12 paper in your sketchbook and your paper should be filled with the creature and a background environment with lots of details.

step two: technique chart

On a small piece of scratchboard paper, create a "technique chart" where you will practice the following techniques for creating texture and value using line.
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Hatching

  • Uses a series of straight, parallel lines.
  • Lines are placed closer together to achieve a lighter value.
  • Lines are placed further apart to achieve a darker value. 
  • Lines can be thicker for lighter value or thinner for darker value
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Stippling

  • Using a series of dots.
  • More dots, closer together = lighter value.
  • Fewer dots, more spread out = darker value.
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Contour Hatching

  • A series of lines, similar to hatching, but the direction of the lines follow the CONTOUR or the SHAPE of the object.
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Cross-Hatching

  • Similar to hatching, but with the addition of "criss-crossing" lines.
  • Closer, thicker, more layers = lighter value
  • More spread out, thinner, fewer layers = darker value



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Varied Hatching

  • A series of lines, similar to hatching, but lines go in various directions.
  • Good to imitate the texture of fur or hair.


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OTHER TEXTURES

Try out the following textures/techniques as well:
  • Wavy Lines
  • Solid White
  • Hair/Grass
  • Rain Drops
  • Sphere
  • Black Branch
  • Cube
  • Flower

Step three: final drawing

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Transfer your rough sketch to your final scratchboard paper.

To do this, apply a layer of white chalk on the BACK of your drawing, place on top of the scratchboard paper (tape down if you like) and then use a pen or pencil to trace over your most important lines.

This will leave light, white lines on your black paper to serve as a guide to get started.
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Use the techniques from your technique chart to create texture (the implied feeling of a surface) and value (light and dark areas).  

Important!

Remember that the areas you scratch out will be white, and the areas you leave alone will be black.  The is the OPPOSITE of regular drawing.  Keep this in mind while you create value.  It will take a little getting used to!  You DO NOT want a NEGATIVE image!

Assessment:

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