Workshop: Shading with Pencil in Berlin
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About this class
Workshop Shading with Pencil: From Basic to Advanced Hatching Techniques. For Beginners and All Levels
Learn – or refine – pencil hatching and shading techniques, and embrace the potential of a medium as powerful and versatile as the pencil.
Take your pencil skills further with exercises to build tone, texture and volume.
We will start from the basics with a broad overview, covering pencil softness, pressure control, angle, tip shape, paper tone, highlights, gradually progressing to more advanced hatching techniques, like circular micro-hatching.
Designed for a small group, this format offers a flexible and supportive approach, adapting to each participant's level, from helping beginners get started to guiding intermediate artists through their individual challenges.
I am Alessia Sinopoli, an Italian professional artist based in Berlin, and I will be your instructor throughout this journey.
What you’ll do in the class
What We'll Do Step by Step
We'll combine theory and practice:
- Introduction to materials. Getting familiar with the tools we will use, exploring the differences between pencils of various hardness. Using graphite grades such as 2H, 2B, and 6B to achieve a rich tonal range from light to dark.
- Hand posture. Proper pencil grip for shading and control of pencil angle.
- Pressure control training. Learning to vary pressure to create different shades of gray and achieve smooth tonal transitions.
- Contouring. Defining the contours of forms with a focus on the effective use of angle and direction.
- Layering and blending. Building up graphite in light layers. Practicing hatching without blending tools to gain full control over tonal transitions, then experimenting with blending stumps to observe the differences.
- Enhancing highlights. Using white pens or precision erasers to reinforce the brightest highlights in the drawing.
- Sketching practice. Drawing simple objects such as cherries, spheres, or apples to practice pencil shading. Progressive construction of the drawing and conscious use of hatching to define form, depth, and contrast.
- Advanced technique demonstration. Demonstration of micro-circular hatching using a needle-point pencil.
- Discussion of common mistakes. Identifying frequent pitfalls and learning how to avoid them.
- Personalized guidance and open Q&A throughout the workshop.
Breaks and Refreshments
While drawing, we'll enjoy some tea. Between the first and second parts of the workshop, we'll take a break. It'll be the perfect moment to connect, share a cup of coffee and a slice of cake together.
Who is the class suitable for?
This workshop is for those who want to spend a cozy and relaxing Saturday in a creative environment, while learning. We will engage intensively in shading and learn essential techniques that provide a solid foundation for drawing with pencils.
A solid foundation gives your creativity room to flourish, helping your drawings become uniquely yours.
Details to remember
Alessia Sinopoli
Ich bin Künstlerin und bei mir lernst Du Portraitzeichnen mit technischer Präzision und freiem Ausdruck zu verbinden. In meinen Workshops entfaltest Du Kreativität, Technik und Deine eigene künstlerische Stimme.
