Smudge Technique

Learning Points

• In drawing, 'value' is defined as how light or dark an image is. Values are organised in a value gradation strip that consist of values ranging from light to dark, with several shades of grey in between.
• Value number 1 is the lightest, and value number 5 is the darkest. The dark value scales are heavily shaded, while the light value scales are lightly shaded as shown in the strip in Activity 1.
• We use dry media to shade values. Examples of dry media include pencils, coloured pencils, charcoal, pastels, and coloured chalk.
• Value gradation effect can be created by shading the image while putting different pressures on the medium, such as a pencil or charcoal, against the drawing surface.

Activity 2

1. Use a pencil or charcoal to shade a small part of your paper.
2. Use your finger to smear the shading.
3. How did the shading appear after smearing?

Learning Points

• The smearing you did in Activity 2 is called smudging.
• With the smudge technique, you first create a basic shading on paper. You then use your finger, cotton wool, or piece of cloth to smear it. This smoothens and blends the shading.
• To create value gradation strips, we use different shading techniques. In Grade 4 we will use the smudge technique.