4.4: Selecting the Right Tools

When creating a value drawing, the choice of tools can greatly influence the final outcome of the artwork. The type of pencil, charcoal, and paper can affect the desired effect and technique. In this section, you'll learn how to select the appropriate materials for the specific effects and techniques you want to use in your value drawing.

Pencils: Pencils come in grades from hard (H) to soft (B). H pencils create lighter lines for details, while B pencils produce darker lines for shading. A range of pencils is essential for value drawing. Use lighter grades for subtle shading and darker grades for bold lines. A 2H pencil works for light shading, and a 6B produces rich darks.

Charcoals: Charcoal comes in vine, compressed, and pencil forms. Vine charcoal is light and erasable, while compressed charcoal is darker and denser, used for bold lines and deeper values. Charcoal is ideal for dramatic, high-contrast drawings with rich blacks and a wide range of tones. Vine charcoal is great for initial sketches, and compressed charcoal adds depth and intensity to shadows.

Papers: When creating drawings with pencil or charcoal, the type of paper you use is very important. The choice of paper depends on the medium used and the desired effect. For example, smooth paper is great for detailed work with pencil, while rough paper is better for creating textured effects with charcoal. Medium paper is a good all-purpose option. Additionally, the weight of the paper is important, with heavier papers being more durable and resistant to erasing and blending. Another consideration is the color of the paper, which can add value to the drawing. Papers with mid-value tones can provide a good background for your artwork.

Blending Tools: Common blending tools include tortillons (paper stumps), soft cloths, and brushes. These Blending tools are especially useful in creating gradations in value when working with graphite or charcoal. They can soften edges, create smooth transitions between tones, and bring the whole drawing together in a more unified way. For example, when working on skin tones, a tortillon can blend pencil lines together to create a soft, realistic texture, while a cloth might be better suited for blending larger areas of charcoal shading. The right selection and application of these tools - pencils, charcoals, papers, and blending tools - are fundamental in creating a range of values in drawings. Each tool offers unique properties and effects, and their skillful combination can lead to rich, expressive, and realistic artwork.

Value finder: A gray scale value finder, is an indispensable tool for artists, especially when learning to draw and paint. Its primary purpose is to help artists accurately assess and replicate the varying values they observe in their subjects.

Making a Gray Scale Value Finder:

• Construct a Grid: Start by drawing a grid on a piece of paper or cardstock. This grid should have 10 squares (or 8, if preferred), each square measuring one inch.

• Shade the Extremes: Use a graphite pencil to shade one end of the grid with the lightest possible pressure to achieve a light gray, almost mimicking white, and the other end with the heaviest pressure for the darkest value, resembling black.

• Gradually Increase Darkness: Beginning next to the lightest square, lightly shade the next square to be a slightly darker gray by applying a bit more pressure. Continue this process, incrementally increasing the pressure (and thus the darkness) for each subsequent square. The square adjacent to the darkest should be very dark gray, achieved by using heavy but not the maximum pencil pressure.

• Ensure Even Shading: Aim for consistent and smooth shading within each square to achieve a clear and gradual transition from light to dark across the grid.

• Optional Isolation Holes: Consider punching holes in each square. This allows you to isolate and directly compare specific values against different areas of your drawing subject, aiding in accurate value matching.

• Online Resources and Tutorials:

o How to Use the Gray Scale & Value Finder like a pro!: This YouTube video provides a practical guide on effectively using a gray scale value finder in your artwork.

o How to find perfect values using a grey scale finder, art drawing tutorial: Another useful YouTube tutorial that guides you through using a grey scale finder for achieving perfect values in your drawings.

Using a Value Finder:

• Value Matching: Move the value finder left or right until the gray in a square matches the value of the area you are observing in your subject. Squinting can help determine the correct match between the value in your subject and the value finder.

• Application in Sketches: Use the value finder to block basic grays from light to dark in your sketches. This helps in understanding the overall composition and how different values interact.

By creating and using a gray scale value finder, artists can significantly improve their ability to interpret and render the values they see, leading to more accurate and realistic drawings and paintings. A value finder, particularly in drawing, is an essential tool for accurately assessing and replicating the range of values observed in subjects. It helps artists determine the correct lightness or darkness needed for their artwork, enhancing realism and depth.