This document provides learning goals and techniques for a drawing exercise focusing on shapes, values, and textures using graphite. Students will first practice applying even tones to paper using value scales. They will then draw spherical objects, beginning with lighter shapes and gradually darkening values without outlines. The goal is to represent forms through accurate values and edges refined with erasers.

1. Graphite Reduction
Drawing with a Focus on Shape & Value

2. What do the students •Draw by large shapes based
on values.
learn from this •Sensitivity to light and dark
values.
technique?

3. Begin with Mini-Labs VALUE SCALES

4. Learning Goals for
the Value Scales:
• Coating the paper evenly and
to a medium-dark value
• How to create darker values
that match the texture
• How to create light values
• How to make lightest two
values

5. Mini-Lab 2 VALUE SPHERE

6. Learning Goals for
the Value
Spheres:
• Working from a sketch
• Beginning the drawing using
shapes of the lighter values
• Darkening the darker values
• Cleaning up edges without
using dark outlines
• Shadows have multiple values
• Adding whites and highlights

8. Show how fortune cookies are actually made and talk about the cultural influence of fortune cookies.

9. Each table has its own mini-still life. There is more control over the still life and it can be stored for the
next class easily.

10. Have the students focus on erasing away for the white mat board.

11. Try to have the students avoid just drawing with the eraser in a “reverse sketch.”

12. Once the values are shaped correctly, the dark values can be tackled.

13. Once the light values are erased down and the dark values darkened, then focus on using a hard eraser
to make the edges crisper.

14. Forms start to come into focus as the students use their hard erasers.

15. Clean up the edges by using a pencil line and then incorporating the line into the shadows to prevent
hard outlines.

16. Add the white chalk for the lightest values as late as possible so the chalk doesn’t mix too much with the
graphite. Use a dark pencil to add finishing details.