In this tutorial, we will focus on drawing and shading simple kitchenware objects using pen and ink techniques. These everyday items provide an excellent opportunity to practice capturing form, light, and texture. By breaking down the shapes and refining shading methods, you'll learn how to give these objects a sense of realism and depth. This tutorial is designed to help artists build confidence in working with both simple and practical subjects while honing their skills in observation and execution.

Reference Photo

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This image is included in (Free Download) Reference Photos Pack 1, which includes Simple Kitchenware Objects.

STEP-BY-STEP DEMONSTRATION

To start the sketch, we'll use a light pencil like HB for the constructive sketching, and a 2B pencil to outline the shapes of the subjects. Constructive sketching is a method that uses simple guide lines based on the overall composition to determine the placement of the subjects.

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In this demo, you’ll notice that the cup and bowl are slightly tilted to the left, so we can sketch a line to establish the axis for both subjects. These guide lines are really helpful for accurately determining the relative positions and sizes of the subjects in the composition.

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Once we’ve completed the constructive sketch, we can begin outlining using curved lines to capture the actual shapes of the subjects. In this demo, the subjects closely resemble basic geometric shapes, so we can use a combination of straight lines, curves, and ovals to outline them.

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Cross-Contour is a technique where you draw lines that follow the 3D structure of the subjects. These lines create the illusion of three-dimensional form, helping to show the surface structure of the objects. For the subjects in this demo, you can use curved and oval lines to represent the cylindrical forms. For the dish, you can draw concentric circles to capture its distinctive shape.

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In addition to horizontal lines, you can also add vertical lines to further clarify the structure of the subject and give you more options when inking later. All the lines should follow the cylindrical shape of the objects. For the dish, to highlight its unique structure, I used straight lines pointing toward the center of the subject.

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Overall Value Shading is the step where we represent the light and shadow in the drawing. For pen & ink techniques in the “Engraving” style, we’ll use two types of lines:

• Solid lines: These are used to shade mid-tone areas, core shadows, reflected light, and cast shadows.

• Broken lines: These are for lighter areas like direct light and highlights.

At this stage, use fine-tipped pens like 0.05 and 0.1. For this demo, it’s a good idea to start with the background to make it easier to balance the overall values. Then, combine solid and broken lines based on the cross-contour directions we analyzed in the previous step to shade the subjects.

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If there’s an area where you're unsure about the value, start with broken lines instead of solid ones. That way, if adjustments are needed, you can easily turn broken lines into solid ones, but it’s harder to go the other way around.

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The next step is to start shading the darkest areas of the drawing. By observing, analyzing, and comparing with the reference photo, we can see that the cast shadows under the cup, bowl, and dish are quite dark. Begin by shading these areas first.

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Next, identify the core shadow (the darkest part on the subject) and apply the technique of varying line thickness to capture the values in these areas. You can continue using the 0.1 pen or switch to a 0.3 pen to adjust line thickness for the cup.

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For the background, you can use pens like 0.5 or 0.7 to create thicker lines more quickly. Pay attention to the sharpness needed for the bowl and the cast shadow on the table surface to represent the hardness of the light.

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At this stage, temporarily ignore the mid-tones and focus only on the darkest areas like the core shadow, reflected light, and cast shadow. You don’t need to achieve the exact values you want yet, just enough to map out the key shading components. We can adjust and refine these areas in the later steps if needed.

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Using the dark areas as a guide, create a smooth transition between the dark and light areas by adding values for the mid-tones. Just like with the dark areas, we’ll adjust the thickness of the lines to capture the mid-tones. However, the variation in line thickness will be more subtle to achieve the exact values we want. Take your time and work carefully in this step to avoid making the values too dark.

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To accurately capture value and enhance contrast, especially in drawings with dramatic lighting (like Chiaroscuro), Cross-hatching is an incredibly effective technique. By drawing a second layer of hatching at about a 30-degree angle to the first, we can increase the depth and contrast of the values.

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You can draw cross-hatching in any direction you like, as long as the lines are at roughly a 30-degree angle to the previous layer. For the background of this demo, I hatched the lines diagonally upward to the right, balancing the slight left tilt of the subjects. For the cup and bowl, pay special attention to the core shadow to capture the necessary value. From there, the other areas will fall into place more accurately.

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For the areas with broken lines, the cross-hatching should also be done using dashed lines to maintain consistency in the overall texture.

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The cast shadows from the objects on the table are flat, so you can hatch in any direction you prefer. To create a connection with the objects above, I chose to use wavy lines for the cross-hatching in the cast shadow area.

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Once you’re done, step back, review, and make any final adjustments to complete your drawing.