What you’ll draw
A small landscape study designed with 3 value groups (sky, land, focal mass) and clear depth cues.
Pencils & paper
- HB, 2B, 4B pencils; kneaded & vinyl erasers; sharpener.
- Sketchbook or smooth paper; ruler (optional).
Value plan
- Group values: sky (light), land (mid), focal (dark or accent).
- Atmospheric perspective: lighter, softer edges in distance.
Step-by-step
1
Block-in
Simple straight lines for horizon and big shapes. Keep it adjustable.
2
Group values
Lay flat tones for sky/land/focal using HB/2B. Save 4B for accents.
3
Edges & texture
Soften distance with light hatching; sharpen focal edges and textures.
4
Accents
Add a few darkest darks (4B) and a small white reserve to focus the eye.
Tips
- Sharpen often; vary stroke direction per plane.
- Use kneaded eraser to lift soft haze in the distance.
- Reserve crisp texture only where you want attention.
Troubleshooting
- Flat depth: Same edges everywhere—soften distance.
- Muddy tones: Too many crossings—restate flat masses first.
- No focus: Add small value jump at the focal area only.