Drawing Dark Values

Achieving solid and dark darks with graphite pencil.
HOW to create them.
WHAT you have to do to achieve them.
WHY your solid dark values are essential.
WHEN solid darks are your best friend.
With lots of advice on ways you can create realistic dark values, shortcuts you should avoid; and ways to achieve strong darks that you might not be aware of.
You can view all the BASIC TECHNIQUES videos, and the intermediate level CREATIVE TECHNIQUES that I'm currently working on at DrawWithMike.net and use the Support Forum to ask any questions, request critiques, or just join in the fun with me and the other artist members.

[@barbarasharpflick8113]

I've taken 2 drawing courses by artists and no one ever suggested this. Always, as you said ,do again, again, again!! Thank you soooo much. !!

[@drawwithmike]

You're welcome, Barbara. Possibly those other two artists aren't as bothered as I am with filling the tooth and removing holes in their shading. Or they might prefer the light and softer approach? Or maybe they build up their values from light to dark? I've never understood that approach. If you want it very dark or black, just be bold and GO FOR IT, and fill the tooth! 😉

[@derekcutsinger3511]

I have spent years trying to figure out the mysteries of graphite and why I couldn’t get it to do what I wanted. So much experimenting and frustration. Thanks so much for this information!

[@drawwithmike]

Thanks, Derek. I too experimented. Then, over the years, I gradually found the more I understood the medium, the easier I found it to achieve the effects I was seeking. So, I'm very pleased to see my ancient experiments helping you. I have another 50+ of these videos at www.DrawWithMike.net that you might also find helpful.

[@derekcutsinger3511]

@@drawwithmike Thank you so much for the info~

[@Occasionallyapotato]

Oh my goodness this channel is a god send! I am so used to looking up tutorials and finding everything charcoal! Finally usable graphite tutorials! Yay!

[@drawwithmike]

You're welcome. 😃 And thanks for that, you've made my day. I don't think I've used charcoal, but I did at one time dabble with carbon and graphite. And then I decided to be a graphite purist. I have over 50 videos now, online courses that I run at Drawspace.com, and of course my book "Drawing from line to life". Any one of those should help you, although you'll have to join us at DrawWithMike.net to see all the videos.

[@CJBradley]

This is the best tutorial I have come across with regard to graphite work..Thank you.! Subbed.

[@drawwithmike]

You're very welcome! And I like to know how things work, so that should help too, :)

[@jotnarymir1393]

The burishing technique really helps get those soild blacks thanks

[@drawwithmike]

I'm always amazed at how those little holes and gaps in shading lighten the value we see. And equally amazed at how dark they become once those holes are filled :) Burnishing really is a most useful technique.

[@AwesomeAndrew]

This was fantastic information, thank you, subscribed

[@zxcvbnm6669]

Again … these videos are awesome thank you for posting them

[@drawwithmike]

You're very welcome - and I'll continue to make them.

[@girliedog]

Wow, so many nuances in your work; thank you for sharing your techniques.

[@drawwithmike]

Thanks, Virginia. You've prompted me into action. 😉 I'll take a short break from the video I'm working on to edit an existing NEGATIVE DRAWING video for you, involving a White Peacock butterfly on weeds. It's 34 minutes long, so I'll edit it down to make it more KZbin friendly. I think you might enjoy it, as I talk you through all my decisions as I draw. And of course, use my brand of Negative Drawing. In the meantime, although it doesn't have the value range of the Butterfly, you might find this one useful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6fNfpiLqtt0l9E

[@alexiacerwinskipierce8114]

Super informative!

[@viajedeldragonresplandeciente]

Hi Mike! Another video with amazing graphics and drawings! 😃 I heard about using a harder grade over a softer one to get darker values, but now thanks to your explanations I have a full understanding about the uses and importance in drawing, as you mentioned, solid blacks and dark values expand the three dimensional shape. Thank you very much for your detailed explanations. I watched the video last night, but I knew I had to watch it again during the day to pay more attention. It was really worth it. ¡Lindo día! 😊

[@drawwithmike]

Thank you! And I'd recommend you watch these videos more than once. I sometimes worry that they're too long - but there's no rambling filler, and they're as long as they need to be. However, it's unlikely you'll remember everything in a single viewing. So watch more than once.... and I've quit worrying :)

[@Alonesoullllllllll]

Thanks Mike ❤️

[@drawwithmike]

You're welcome... and thanks for the thanks :)

[@robertblackborow8474]

Very useful ,thanks

[@drawwithmike]

Thanks, Robert. In that case, I'll get back to making the videos. 😉 I have a Drawing Trees demo to film today.

[@lvbailey1]

❣️Thank you❣️

[@lyaoninlyu7167]

Thanks.

[@ElshehaB]

Another great one, thank you

[@robbarmore6857]

Very good explanation.

[@drawwithmike]

Thanks, Rob. As you found that useful, I posted a new video last night on a similar subject that you might enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZ2UeqCAiJ6fnKc

[@anthonysbliss]

All u tuber s re gonna sue you for revealing the forbidden jutsu!😆 love u so much. You are so Warm generous and witty!

[@OnyXerxes]

Amazing video, you deserve more subscribers!

[@drawwithmike]

Thanks! I'm not really designed for KZbin... 😄 I take far too long making each video, so I can't post regularly. That said, I've a load of ideas for 2024 videos, and you should see new ones appearing soon. In the meantime, I've got over 50 videos on drawing (of which this is one) at drawWithMike.net - and membership is cheap.

[@OnyXerxes]

@@drawwithmike I've noticed KZbin doesn't seem recommend these kind of art videos anymore in general. KZbin artists who used to get hundreds of thousands of views every video are down to like 3,000 an upload. It seems like the algorithm mostly just promotes these trendy low attention span art "challenge" channels now. But it's clear you put a lot of work into your videos and they're very helpful so it's a shame, you deserve more subs.

[@drawwithmike]

@@OnyXerxes Thanks for that. I understand and agree with you, Unfortunately, I'm rather stubborn. :) I make videos that I believe will help - and that I enjoy making - rather than making them purely to please the KZbin algorithm. That said, I'm working on a dozen projects at present, some of which will be cut down to better suit KZbin, while the full version will go to DrawWithMike.

[@OnyXerxes]

@@drawwithmike I hope one day all the hard work pays off

[@owengarrattwriter]

Another excellent video! :)

[@drawwithmike]

Thanks, Owen. It's one of three - Light, Medium and Dark values... but, I don't plan on posting the other two here.

[@jomeson4081]

Does burnishing make the graphite shine more?

[@drawwithmike]

Undoubtably, yes. It will have filled and removed all the white pits in the paper. So, being more solid, it will produce more shine. But all graphite pencil will, in any case. It's a property of the graphite molecules being flat sheets. To counter that, you simply fix the drawing on completion with a matte workable fixative. And, even if you didn't, once the drawing is framed and behind glass, that shine almost ceases to exist.

[@improvementTime10.3.17]

10:50 14:40

[@ponchocolate3902]

Gracias !!!!!!!!

[@drawwithmike]

Happy to help. :) And thanks for letting me know.

[@ponchocolate3902]

@@drawwithmike Saludos Cordiales.

[@anjandlee]

Thanks for the video 😊 What fixative do you use? Thanks

[@drawwithmike]

Winsor & Newton - but any MATTE/ WORKABLE fixative should do the job of removing the shine from graphite. And with that removed, your darks will have the intensity you intended. Watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKTKqKiIiNCVgLM for advice on Fixatives.

[@antonioblanco3086]

Thank you. Which brand is darkest?

[@drawwithmike]

I'm not the best person to ask, because I only use Staedtler. However, I believe Tombow are considered to be both dark and creamy in application. And any Japanese brand might be darker too. Their HB is both softer and darker than the European HB, which is why they developed the F grade for writing - it's similar in hardness to a European HB. So, I'm assuming all their softer grades are probably darker too.

[@antonioblanco3086]

@@drawwithmike thank you, I can't buy it but it's good to know. I use faber castell and it's so light.