It’s not necessary to select a different pencil every time you want a
slightly different tone. By varying the pressure you apply to the
pencil, you can get a variety of grays. All of the shades presented on
this tone wheel were made by the same HB pencil simply by
pressing lighter or harder.
Artists use shading for several reasons: It softens an image’s
appearance, it makes an image look solid, and it adds variety.
- White objects tend to look as if they were coming forward in the
picture. Darker objects, on the other hand, tend to appear to be
receding. - A slight gray tone around the edges softens an image. This is also
used to give edges a rounded look. - Light gray, or “soft gray,” is used to depict anything from skin to
the sky. It’s versatile but also subtle. Not a good choice if you need to
make an impact. - This is your standard gray tone.
- Dark gray is sometimes used instead of black; it’s excellent for dark
shadows. - True black is a great look, but it is also a total commitment. And
once it’s on paper, forget about erasing it.