The Most Important Rule of Cross-Hatching

[@bustermaximus]

I'll be honest; hatching has been my go-to technique for thirty years, and it has never before occurred to me to build up value using an off-black or gray ink. It makes so much sense! Excellent tip.

[@mkompan]

Thanks! Funny how those little, obvious tricks can make all the difference.

[@westfieldartworks8188]

I'm generally an oil painter, but I found this video to be fascinating. So many ways to lay down that cross hatch, each changing the look and expression of the work. In oil painting, directions of brushstrokes express different things about the subject matter. A dominance of horizontal strokes give a feeling of serenity. All directions of strokes give a sense of atmosphere and drama. Down the forms give a feeling of strength and grandeur. I've read that curved lines of cross hatching require more mental energy on the part of the viewer to read. Straight lines a little less mental energy. Great video. Thank you.

[@mkompan]

Thanks for your comment. This is a fascinating, complicated topic. The overall hatch direction does influence the feel of the piece, in similar ways to the brushstroke. Steeper hatching angles create a strong sense of movement, as we see in some of the etchings of Zorn, where energetic strokes cascade through the image. Stroke length also plays a part, with shorter strokes creating a bristly and nervous tone, and longer strokes conveying smoothness and calm.

[@ermdracula]

I thought this was a clickbait title, but as I was watching, I was like "Oh my god, why have I never thought of this? It's so obvious!" It's not very often when you hear an art tip that's going to improve your work almost immediately, but this one definitely is one of 'em.

[@mkompan]

Thank you. I usually avoid “click-bait” titles out of respect for the intelligence of my viewers, but here it felt entirely appropriate. Glad you found this useful!

[@onesmallvoicex2]

Great little lesson. So lovely to go back and appreciate Rembrandt’s skills in light of this artist tips on ink color and all. Thank you for reminding me that if you want to be good at something, you must practice. I am inspired.

[@mkompan]

You’re very welcome! Glad you found this inspiring.

[@us-Bahn]

and Van Gogh’s drawings

[@zaraahmadzadeh]

Thanks👍👌✨

[@mkompan]

@@zaraahmadzadeh you’re welcome!

[@DonyDoodles]

always wondered why my hatching didn’t look like my favourite artists’. now i know why! thank you!

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome!

[@UncleRicoOne]

The rhythmic placement of cross hatching on paper is music to the artistic soul.

[@mkompan]

I find it hypnotic, lulling me into a deep state of focus.

[@ganiniii]

@@mkompan I am curious about drawing but very bad. Sometimes when I start hatching I do stuff that I usually can't do and it's totally illogical somehow. If I hatch very fast the lines usually don't go out of place and there's a point it seems I am doing it with obsession or it's not me controling my hand somehow! This intrigues me.

[@mkompan]

@@ganiniii there’s a lot too it, and it can be frustrating. For many people progress is so slow that it’s hard to see. Just keep at it, and hold on to your old drawings. I guarantee that in a year, when you look at the work you’re doing now, you’ll see improvement.

[@randomnative3630]

Excellent presentation. Your students are lucky to have such a talented and knowledgeable teacher. Cheers.

[@mkompan]

Thank you. That’s very kind of you!

[@sayusayme7729]

Thank you, really haven’t tried cross hatching. Beautiful work.

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome! And give it a shot. I have a number of videos for the beginner to get you started.

[@emecevedo]

Excellent video. I have always struggled with cross-hatching.

[@mkompan]

Thank you. Hope this helps you in your efforts.

[@mariettawarkentin2799]

So beautifully rendered!💕🎨

[@mkompan]

@@mariettawarkentin2799 thank you!

[@pamelabozzi239]

This was a nice supplement to the hatching tutorials. Thanks

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome!

[@vincedoc]

This gives me the willies… I’m transported back to first year art school classes in 1980 and a lecturer who’d constantly redraw everyone’s work in this style (yes YOU Nev Wakling!!) while shouting at poor students whose work he was particularly unimpressed by. I never got the full treatment off him, but all the students used to refer to have their work “Nev-ed” after he’d come over and cross hatch them with his 6HB. 😅

[@mkompan]

Sorry to trigger your art-school PTSD. My early 90’s art school experience was also traumatic, with hours-long critiques, domineering, narcissistic professors who insisted on their way of doing things, etc. Things have changed, I think, mainly because instructors nowadays can’t get away with such abuse.

[@LevelNineDrow]

Thanks you for this video.

[@mkompan]

@@LevelNineDrow you’re very welcome!

[@Ayzay1717]

Thanks for the tips.

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome!

[@madiko]

Oh my gosh, Marc on this question I struggled so much. Now you gave the answer in your typical style. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It is not easy to apply though... It needs a lot of practice and a good mentor, I suppose.

[@mkompan]

You’re very welcome! This does take time and consistent practice, but the most important thing is to just draw as much as you can and enjoy the learning process.

[@ichirofakename]

Thanks. I am convinced.

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome. That’s a relief. :)

[@mallorymallory3534]

Thank you, Jeremy Renner

[@mkompan]

Don’t see the resemblance, but you’re welcome.

[@mallorymallory3534]

🏹

[@thejourneyinggamer]

i really enjoyed this, thank you

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome!

[@akitoakito8790]

❤❤❤

[@mkompan]

@@akitoakito8790 😀😀😀

[@engleharddinglefester4285]

Thanks this was very helpful.

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome! Glad to hear it.

[@mcrumph]

Very good video. I would suggest that hatching can be used for texture, especially in landscapes, architecture as well as some fabrics. Check out Franklin Booth's illustrations, by far the very pinnacle of hatching technique.

[@mkompan]

@@mcrumph thank you! Texture is definitely an additional complication that could not be covered here. As I see it, while there are certain situations where texture can be used to build form and value, in most cases the roles of hatching and texture need to be kept separate. In short, cross-hatching should always be quieter than the texture of the object, so that it doesn’t get confused with it. And Booth is indeed excellent.

[@krishna_saadhu]

Wow. Very intetesting. Fortunately i saw your channel. I want to become a portrait artist. First what to do???

[@mkompan]

Thank you! Hard to give advice not knowing you, but joining some professional organization would help. Here in the US we have the Portrait Society of America, which holds contests and other activities. Perhaps there’s something similar in your area.

[@pyrohedronthethornofthefla804]

Beautiful, thank you for the lesson. What pen are you using?

[@mkompan]

@@pyrohedronthethornofthefla804 you’re welcome! I’m using a Pilot Justus 95z

[@MK-lk4ux]

Which pen did you use for this cross hatch method

[@mkompan]

This is a Pilot Justus 95

[@shan752]

Thank you! Quesion: what were you doing to your pen at time's during drawing? It appeared you unscrewed for something. I ask because I get frustrated my ink flow for one pen and not another. Have to push ink to nib.

[@kjbphotography2532]

He uses a pilot Justus 95 pen with an adjustable line width/flex with a tension adjuster. You can screw and unscrew the end next to the nib to adjust. Excellent pen for drawing if you can afford it.

[@sonijam]

What kind of pen is that and why do you sometimes twist the tip of it?

[@mkompan]

@@sonijam this is a Pilot Justus 95, which has an adjustable nib.

[@sonijam]

@@mkompan Thank you!

[@JohnMitchellCalif]

very useful! Will study this and check out your class on Vimeo

[@mkompan]

@@JohnMitchellCalif thank you!

[@SteveKotrch]

Thank you. Impressive! But can you please add an "S" filter to your recording practice? The audio has a lot of whistles, I'm afraid

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome. And sorry for the audio. I’m an amateur, and doing my best.

[@LuoDrawing]

I personally feel that analyzing these lines is not very meaningful because everyone has a different feeling about painting. Perhaps what you think is a good way of expressing lines is exactly what others don't like

[@mkompan]

You may not find it meaningful, but this is your opinion, and other people may find this useful. I don't claim to have definitive answers to how different hatching types effect the drawing, but I think we can agree that it's an important consideration.

[@LuoDrawing]

@@mkompan I completely agree with your statement that everyone has different feelings and levels of painting. When I learned these pencil techniques, I was very young, so it didn't mean much to me. However, many beginners must have gained a lot from it

[@MiltonDas-m8k]

Excellent sir.......... ❤

[@mkompan]

Thank you!