Before starting, it’s a good idea to sharpen your pencils first. Not sure how to sharpen art pencils the right way? Check out this how to. Keeping your pencils sharp will make the crosshatching look more precise. Or if markers are more your style, reach for a fine liner for sharp, crisp cross hatching. Next, have a think of where the light source is coming from, this will help later when you start adding in the shadows. 

Now, pick up the pencils or the markers and draw or sketch your object. To keep things easy, focus on the darkest shadow areas, this is where you’ll begin hatching first. Add lines in one direction, then lay another set of lines on top, going the other direction. Intersecting lines help create darker tones so it’s best to keep these lines close together and denser for darker areas. You can also create slightly thicker lines for deeper shadows if needed.

With lighter areas, experiment with the direction and angle of the lines but this time, instead of keeping the lines close together, do the opposite. Keeping a bit of space between the lines will show highlights and suggest light.

For areas with neither shadow or highlights, you can still add hatching to create interest. Vary the direction and angle of the lines to add dimension and interest, this will help make your art look less ‘flat’.

It’s always a good idea to experiment with the direction and density of the lines and see what works best for you. Practice also helps, this technique can be tricky to get the hang of, so don’t worry if you don’t get it right the first time.

That’s it! Now you know how to cross hatch in drawing! Looking for more drawing techniques? Head on over to our 26 drawing techniques for you to master or check out more of our handy how-to videos.