Before working on the colored pencil techniques, students will learn the way light and shadows are expressed on a simple object (say, an apple or egg) where there is only one identified light source. They will learn to identify form and cast shadows (and know the difference, as well as identify highlights.

By using various colored pencil techniques, students can achieve realistic effects in their colored pencil drawings. I guide students through six basic techniques: hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, scribbling, layering and burnishing. We will explore how these techniques can illustrate the expression of light and shadow on objects, as well as expressions of texture, and therefore, putting it all together, the techniques ultimately help express three-dimensions. Later we will continue to use these techniques with chiaroscuro drawing as well as with painting. 

After practicing the six techniques, students will choose from among relatively simple photographic images of still lives, and use this reference to render their own still life drawing.

Goals – Students should…

Understand:

• Why, when rendering realistic representations in colored pencil, one would choose to use the various techniques taught in this lesson (i.e., to produce certain effects of light and shadow, express texture, etc.)
• How light and shadows fall onto an object

Know:

• The meaning of the following techniques: hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, layering, burnishing, scribbling
• The term congruous when referring to colors

Be able to:

• Effectively render the six techniques in colored pencil to express light, shadow and texture
• Thoughtfully choose from among the techniques to produce deliberate effects
• Identify the highlights, form (core) shadows and cast shadows on an object with one light source falling onto it

Objectives – Students will: Use the colored pencil techniques practiced in this lesson to render one realistic still life drawing

Resources and materials –

• Still life photo references
• 9×12 white paper (or grayscale paper)
• Colored pencils
• Sharpeners
• Erasers

Questions –

• What might you want to use a hatching technique for?
• What might you want to use a cross-hatching technique for?
• Why would you use the dark, dense lines in hatching?
• Why would you use light and spread-out lines in hatching?
• When might you want to use the layering effect?
• When might you want to use the burnishing effect?
• What do you envision using stippling for?
• What do you envision using scribbling for?
• Can you also use layering and/or burnishing when stippling or scribbling?
• What are congruous colors?
• Where are the highlights in this image?
• Where are the form shadows in this image?
• Where are the cast shadows?
• What is darker, the form shadow or the cast shadow?

Evaluation – Did students:

• Effectively use the six techniques in their still life?
• Thoughtfully and purposefully use the techniques to represent aspects of light, shadow, texture and color in a still life?

Informal:

• Student questions
• Group discussions
• Oral responses to essential questions
• Elaboration and risk-taking
• At least one completed technique sheet and one still life

• 4th grade
• Drawing