This video tutorial, An Evening in the Studio: Tonal Quality in Drawing, Part 1 is the first of a two-part lesson. Part 2 is available on Patreon/DanThompsonArt.
The video is devoted to exploring graphite pencil’s degrees of shades (which I refer to as “tones” or “values") on a piece of drawing paper. I've designed a simple exercise for you to assist in your ability to control and develop the tones.
I begin with an inspirational quote from a beloved teacher of mine, Deane G. Keller (1940 - 2005). I then address certain materials of the drawing studio in an ultra-fundamental way. I explain how the range of leads classically perform, what "graining" technique looks like (and how to recognize it in master drawings) and the ways that the idiosyncrasies in your approach might bring about the illusion of texture in a drawing.
Step-by-step, I guide you through the simple exercise of layering, embedding leads of varying hardness upon one another while closely observing the results. I show you drawing "stance" and why pressure on the paper itself is less appealing to me than the proximity of juxtaposed marks. We cover your pencil points and how those can create a universality of coverage, for achieving a painterly value. I sequence of layering the pencils in different ways, as an experiment in value "noise," and I discuss the use of a paper stump and its influence on tonal quality.
I finish up Part 1 of this work-along exercise by describing what it means to go dark in pencil drawing without going "shiny." I do this by surveying several "darkest dark" options you may select from among contemporary pencil manufacturers.
I designed this tutorial with your material experimentation in mind, so that the magic that pencil is known for, graphite's incredible tonal qualities and value characteristics, might be an expressive power that you could demystify and wield yourself. I look forward to your feedback.
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