Realistic Pencil Drawing: Value, Texture, and a Square
Course Curriculum
Lesson Description
These lessons build on foundational drawing concepts by focusing on how value and texture work together to create the illusion of form. This lesson is designed to help artists better understand how light behaves on surfaces and how careful value control can transform simple shapes into convincing, three-dimensional objects. Through clear explanation and practical demonstration, this class strengthens essential skills required for realistic drawing.
Understanding Value Relationships
A primary focus of this lesson is learning how values relate to one another. You’ll explore how highlights, midtones, and shadows define form and how even subtle value changes can dramatically affect realism. The class demonstrates how to organize values logically, allowing the drawing to read clearly and convincingly. Rather than guessing, you’ll learn how to observe and compare values accurately.
Using a Simple Form to Learn Complex Ideas
The square may seem like a simple subject, but it provides an ideal way to study light and shadow. In this class, the square is used to demonstrate how flat shapes can appear three-dimensional when values are applied correctly. You’ll learn how planes change value based on their orientation to the light source and how edges and corners contribute to the perception of depth.
Exploring Texture in Pencil Drawing
Texture plays an important role in realism, and this lesson shows how texture can be suggested without overwhelming the drawing. You’ll learn how pencil marks, pressure, and layering can create the appearance of surface quality while still maintaining clear value structure. The class explains how texture should support form rather than compete with it.
Layering Graphite Effectively
The lesson demonstrates how to build values gradually through controlled layering. You’ll learn how to start light and slowly deepen shadows while preserving highlights. This approach helps maintain clarity and prevents overworking the drawing. Techniques for smoothing transitions and sharpening edges are also covered, helping the square feel solid and dimensional.
Developing Better Observation Skills
Throughout the class, emphasis is placed on careful observation and patience. You’ll learn how to slow down and truly see value changes instead of relying on assumptions. These observation skills are essential not only for drawing simple forms but also for tackling more complex subjects with confidence.
A Critical Step Toward Realism
By the end of this module, you’ll have a completed drawing and a deeper understanding of how value and texture create form. The concepts learned in this lesson apply to all realistic drawing subjects, making it a crucial step in developing strong, dependable drawing skills.
Specific Lessons
Lesson 1 - Value
In this lesson, we explore value - one of the seven elements of art.
Lesson 2 - Mark Making
In this lesson, we begin our look at texture by exploring mark making.
Lesson 3 - Inventing Textures
In this lesson, we look at creating textures from imagination that represent surfaces from reality.
Lesson 4 - Simulating Textures
In this lesson, we work from photo references to replicate observed textures.
Lesson 5 - Square of Patience
In this lesson, we wrap up our look at texture by completing one last texture study.
Lesson Materials
- Stonehenge White Paper
- 2H, HB, and 2B Graphite Pencils
- Blending Stumps
- Vinyl or Plastic Eraser
Lesson Resources
References
Download eBook
Photo References
Founder of The Virtual Instructor, artist and teacher. Matt makes learning art easy to understand and enjoyable.
I want to have these lessons so please tell me when you are going to bill me so I make sure the account has funds
Hi Mary Ann,
Can you send me an email to discuss this?
Thank you Matt for coming up with this new course. I LOVE it and I was really looking forward to getting all info you are giving on how and when to use the different grades of graphite to render realistic values and textures. You are THE BEST.
Thanks Simona!
Hi Matt,
I love the way how you repeatedly explain the seven elements of art in almost all your lessons! It reminds me of my driving teacher back then by giving same instructions until automatical driving was achieved.
Great, great, great!
Hi Matt,
I want to assure you that your time taken to produce these has been well spent.
You have brought the study of art to my home – this is the only way I have been able to move forward. Your attitude of light-hearted seriousness is perfect for me. Your courses are so well thought out.
Soooooooo excited to begin this course! Yay!!
Awesome, Thanks Margaret!
I am amazed that, following along with you, I managed to do the swatches. The final swatch was a real eye opener. I will be smiling to myself for the rest of the day. A real lesson, thank you.
Awesome – Thanks Sue!
Awesome lesson. I am working with the swatches and am amazed with the texture created. Love it thank you.
The Square of Patience exercise was as enlightening, as promised. I finished slightly before two hours, but found my paper was overworked. Seems I had gotten too intense with the 2H and mangled the paper a bit. Also, on the texture swatches yesterday my supposed 2H mechanical pencil actually had some leftover 2B. I finally got this figured out today, but was not used to the feel of the 2H. Live and learn:) These are great lessons because they have the perfect mix of challenge and reward. I really liked what you said about finishing a section in order to feel a small sense of satisfaction.
Awesome glad to hear, Susan! Learning the boundaries of the medium is important too.
Hi Matt – I have a question about the value section. Looking at the cast shadow of the ball ( or sphere), there is a highlight in the back part of the shadow…if we consider the photo as “flat”, it is at the top of the cast shadow. Where does this highlight come from? Thanks.
I am so glad that I found you online. I have been drawing since old enough to hold a pencil, but as I got older, I have never been happy with my work. Looking at this course has showed me what I have been doing wrong. Your classes are awesome because you are so good at what you do. I recently signed up, so there is much to cover. Thankfully, I am retired and this fills my time because it’s what I love to do. Thank you!!
I tried to learn things myself but, it would not work at all. When i tried this cource, i’ve learned so much in one our! I highly recommend you try this! if you dint already!
I tried to learn things myself but, it would not work at all. When i tried this cource, i’ve learned so much in one our! I highly recommend you try this! if you dint already!
Thx Matt!
Dear Matt,
I finally decided tomchallenge me with this course. You offer a life long study possibility, which is precious. My husband is so happy for me having found TVI. I hope to improve my observation skills, hand-eye coorditation and of course my drawing skills with this lesson.
Thank you so much for everything you do and are,
Buddy
Dear Matt, this course is fantastic! I wish that I had visited earlier on my art journey. The car just was so intimidating that I shyed away. Just finished the “square if patience” whitch took me about 4,5 hours.
You hoped, your studends might have a “aha” moment.
You were absolutely right. Not only one, but several “ahas”! This square if patience tought me more than I wouod have imagined.
Just threw my intimidation into the bin.
You can draw anything!!!
Thank you for this fabulous time you are gifting to your students.
Buddy
Sorry for my misspellings. 😉
so enjoying this course…really like doing the swatches and forcing myself to look at things and draw what i see not what i think i see….the information about the basics and also the processes is really great and i’m learning a lot… thank you
tom (uk)