Very first drawing class I took, the teacher talked about hatching. I knew she couldn’t possibly mean hatching like an egg since we were drawing. The concept was very foreign to me until I did extra research and found the answer I needed. Hatching is a form of line work that artists use to create depth and shadow. Whatever style of hatching you use adds a different shade and texture to an image. Below are descriptions and examples of the different hatch marks I like to use along with a couple interesting variations and a quick detour in mark making. Have fun testing these!
Parallel Hatch
Parallel hatching is straight lines drawn next to each other. Simple enough. These lines can be tight or loose with spacing, which changes how shadow is perceived on an object. I normally use this basic hatch mark for flat shadows because its main purpose is shadow and depth.
Contour Hatch
Contour hatching is similar to regular hatching but the lines follow the form of the contours, or outlines of the shape. This works better on round shapes. In the sample, the same parallel lines now match the sides of the box instead of being diagonal. Again, this works better for rounded shapes like circles, people, clothing, etc. It adds another layer of depth because it reaffirms outlines.
Cross-Hatch
Cross-hatching is hatching done both ways. The parallel is broken by perpendicular lines, but the general sense of a line is still discernible. Cross-hatching is the best and easiest way to get strong depth and shadow. In the case of this box, I would have the lighter side with just parallels and the darker as a cross-hatch. That’s the best part about hatching: you can mix and match in the same picture.
Cross-Contour Hatch
Cross-contour hatching is the same idea as cross-hatching, just along the contours. For the box, the original contour hatches are as is and hatch lines aligned with the sides are added. Cross-contours are good for edges with two curves or varied depths. It offers the organic depth you would normally see in real life.
Basket/Woven Hatch
This is when hatching creates depth and texture. I’ve actually never used basket hatching, but I found it when I did my initial research and found it so interesting. My method for this mark is drawing three lines at a time in a “Christmas tree” pattern (along one diagonal at a time). It creates a woven pattern and depending on how tight the lines are, the darker it is. Primarily, this is for texturing, but it’s an intriguing method for depth.
“Tick” Hatch
“Tick” hatching has a similar texture purpose as basket. Rather than long lines, you sketch small dashes. Think of drawing grass: use really short strokes drawn at a quick pace. The look is hairy or grass-like, so another interesting texture.
Stippling/Mark Making
Again, we’ve got texture based depth with stippling and mark making. Stippling is when you take a marker and dot the sheet. I did this sample on my computer with a stylus, but ink or paint splatter has the same look. Mark making is just general shapes or strokes. I used a curled line for the sample. Depth and texture can be created in many ways, and those variations fit into mark making.
