Shading Mastery Brings Artwork to Life 21st November 2025 Creative Arts Our Year 4 artists have been learning how to bring their drawings to life by using different shading techniques to show form and light. The focus of the lesson was on creating light, medium, and dark tones with pencil to add depth and realism. Pupils experimented with three key techniques: cross-hatching, blending, and scumbling. Cross-hatching uses overlapping lines to build tone, blending smooths pencil marks for soft transitions, and scumbling creates texture with small, circular strokes. Once they had practised these methods, the children applied them to make objects appear three-dimensional, paying close attention to how light falls and shadows form. To check their progress, they worked with a partner, holding their drawings at a distance to see how effectively the shading created depth. The results were fantastic – a real showcase of creativity and observation skills! Well done, Year 4, for mastering these important artistic techniques.