I had a vague idea of what cross-hatching is, but seeing you mentioning it time and again I had to check it up. So, I watched some youtube vids (crosshatching for dummies!) to get some more understanding of the technique.
I realized that it was something that I've have been using in my doodles, without ever knowing that it is a formal technique. It felt natural that more lines over the same spot make the spot darker, but it was nice hearing it in "formal" lessons! I like the technique because it does not involve greyscale shading, only lines are used and the result only includes two colors, just black & white.
Then, I remembered the source of my love for black & white drawings: Savage Sword of Conan, a monthly comic by Marvel, in larger format (almost A4-sized). Most of the artists used cross-hatch in various styles, but my all-time favorite was Ernie Chan. You can check his work on the internet, but I googled that for you already: link to Ernie Chan's art
I think we have the same taste - I do know Ernie Chan and I like him - another great cross-hatcher is Brian Bolland who made Judge Dredd and Batman.
The origin of the technique, or at least where it was refined was in printmaking. When you make intaglio print it is not possible to do anything but lines (not entirely true... methods like aquatint and mezzotint does exactly that) but for the original engravings and etchings it was only possible to create things with lines - some of the most beautiful examples are in the engraving technique where you cut the lines in metal with a graver.
Both Bolland and Chan owes a lot to the engravers.
Here it is, in prestige 50x34cm format, with text in German, Old & Modern Greek, annotations and 15 Durer woodcuts. I'll definitely devote a whole post on this.
Yes, they are really wonderful. Even though these aren't engravings Dürer did make his own engravings which is very seldom amongst artists. You probably know the Melancholia print. A very, very beautiful piece. I have seen it in the museum in Hamburg.
It is a perfect example of how to make different textures with different ways of cross-hatching.
Yes, Bolland is also a favorite of mine from his 2000AD runs, and from the covers of Grant Morrison's THE INVISIBLES one of the best comics ever made (albeit in full color!). And of course his collaboration with the arch-mage Alan Moore, for the classic Batman arc The Killing Joke.
It is indeed very impressive to see how the usage of simple lines with no shades can have such wonderful results. Now that you mentioned engravers, it is time to reveal that this is also something I am fascinated by! As a child I was browsing the Divine Comedy, examining all details of Dore's pictures. As an adult, one of the best purchases I've made, is St John's Revelation with Pictures by Durer, in prestige format, which I will photo and share as soon as I get home.
I had a vague idea of what cross-hatching is, but seeing you mentioning it time and again I had to check it up. So, I watched some youtube vids (crosshatching for dummies!) to get some more understanding of the technique.
I realized that it was something that I've have been using in my doodles, without ever knowing that it is a formal technique. It felt natural that more lines over the same spot make the spot darker, but it was nice hearing it in "formal" lessons! I like the technique because it does not involve greyscale shading, only lines are used and the result only includes two colors, just black & white.
Then, I remembered the source of my love for black & white drawings: Savage Sword of Conan, a monthly comic by Marvel, in larger format (almost A4-sized). Most of the artists used cross-hatch in various styles, but my all-time favorite was Ernie Chan. You can check his work on the internet, but I googled that for you already: link to Ernie Chan's art
I think we have the same taste - I do know Ernie Chan and I like him - another great cross-hatcher is Brian Bolland who made Judge Dredd and Batman.
The origin of the technique, or at least where it was refined was in printmaking. When you make intaglio print it is not possible to do anything but lines (not entirely true... methods like aquatint and mezzotint does exactly that) but for the original engravings and etchings it was only possible to create things with lines - some of the most beautiful examples are in the engraving technique where you cut the lines in metal with a graver.
Both Bolland and Chan owes a lot to the engravers.
Here it is, in prestige 50x34cm format, with text in German, Old & Modern Greek, annotations and 15 Durer woodcuts. I'll definitely devote a whole post on this.
Yes, they are really wonderful. Even though these aren't engravings Dürer did make his own engravings which is very seldom amongst artists. You probably know the Melancholia print. A very, very beautiful piece. I have seen it in the museum in Hamburg.
It is a perfect example of how to make different textures with different ways of cross-hatching.
Yes, Bolland is also a favorite of mine from his 2000AD runs, and from the covers of Grant Morrison's THE INVISIBLES one of the best comics ever made (albeit in full color!). And of course his collaboration with the arch-mage Alan Moore, for the classic Batman arc The Killing Joke.
It is indeed very impressive to see how the usage of simple lines with no shades can have such wonderful results. Now that you mentioned engravers, it is time to reveal that this is also something I am fascinated by! As a child I was browsing the Divine Comedy, examining all details of Dore's pictures. As an adult, one of the best purchases I've made, is St John's Revelation with Pictures by Durer, in prestige format, which I will photo and share as soon as I get home.
I love it ! :-) i guess i am your new follower ! :-)
Thanks :)