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Crosshatching with colored pencils involves the layering of light, parallel strokes over an area of paper, followed by another layer of parallel strokes applied at a different angle over the first set. You may continue layering strokes, altering the direction for each layer and coating the white of the paper.
Keep the amount of pressure you apply consistent with each stroke to avoid distracting areas of dark and light. In general, apply light pressure and keep the strokes spaced closely to avoid developing a netlike texture. Also, keeping the pencils sharp and drawing with a quick movement of the wrist will keep your strokes consistent in direction and value. -
You can create a variety of values (the lightness or darkness of a color) through crosshatching. Patiently building up layers gives you a great amount of control over the tone development and results in a smoother appearance.
Applying more pressure on the paper creates a darker value more quickly than the traditional layering approach, but you can run the risk of scoring the paper or creating strokes that vary in width and value. Therefore, practice different amounts of pressure on scrap paper before incorporating them into a work of art.
You can also alter the value of crosshatching by changing the distance between your strokes. Allotting more distance between the strokes will create a lighter value, allowing more of the white paper to show through; however, note that each stroke will be more visible, producing a rough, sketchy quality. -
Crosshatching with blue and red creates a layer of purple.Crosshatching also provides a means of color mixing. Layering two colors of crosshatching will create a third color. For example, crosshatching red over blue creates a purple hue. You can also neutralize (or tone down) a color by crosshatching over its complementary color. For example, neutralize red by crosshatching over it with green, building up light layers until you reach the desired hue and value.
To keep the colors rich and bright, limit the number of colored pencils you layer; using more than three colors can yield muddy results. When crosshatching with two or more colors, apply the lightest color first and the darkest color last. This will help prevent your colors from muddying on the paper. - Many artists modify the direction of strokes in crosshatching to more accurately represent a subject's form. For example, an artist would crosshatch a sphere using lines that curve to follow the object's rounded surface. This creates a more three-dimensional appearance than basic crosshatching with straight lines.
- Consider the subject matter's texture when crosshatching. A heavier crosshatching pattern could be ideal for suggesting the grain of fabric, whereas crosshatching with a very light pressure is the best choice when aiming for a smooth, polished surface, such as glass.
