Hatching comes from the French word “hachure” meaning series of short parallel lines. It is an artistic technique used to create tonal or shading effects by drawing closely spaced parallel lines. When lines are placed at an angle to one another, it is called cross-hatching.
Hatching and crosshatching are some of the most valuable tools for generating value and texture in a drawing. These techniques use simple lines in various arrangements and densities to create a solid sense of atmospheric perspective and contour. The representation of light utilizes the white or openness of the page, while shadow is created by a density of crossed lines.
Artists use the technique, varying the length, angle, closeness and other qualities of the lines to emphasize forms and to create the illusion of volume.
If you examine the value scale below, you can see how the left side uses a simple pattern of parallel lines spaced widely apart to represent light. The right side uses several layers of crisscrossing lines to create a feeling of shadow.
1) Parallel hatching- can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines.
2) Contour hatching - follow the lines of the subject.
3) Cross-hatching - two layers of contour or parallel hatches, one on top of the other.
4) Fine cross-hatching - several layers of contour or parallel hatches, each on top of the other.
5) “Basket” or “woven” hatching - short sets of parallel hatches going one way, and another set of parallel hatches going almost perpendicular to the first set of hatches.
6) “Tick” hatching - small contour lines piled on top of one another, not necessarily crossing.
Some of the famous cross-hatching artists include Rembrandt van Rijn, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Edward Linley Sambourne.
