DrawWithMike.net

Hello. A quick question in regard to white and dark fine hairs:
I presume that if I indent with an 8H and then shade a darker value over the indented area then this would achieve bright white hair due to the shadows of the marks being coated with a darker graphite. I have just tried this and I am delighted with the results!
But then I thought 'would I use an undercoat of a softer value than the 8H first and then use the 8H to indent the darker value into the paper to achieve dark hairs? And after that then the excess darker value could be lifted with blue tack, which would leave the dark hair that I was after?'
I have tried this and it did seem to work well. But I am unsure if I have gone a very long way around to make these dark fine hairs stand out?
Thanks for your time reading this and I am open to any suggestions!
And thank you Mike for providing such a wonderful way to learn.
From Andrew

Andyart67 wrote: Wed Nov 19, 2025 10:00 pm I presume that if I indent with an 8H and then shade a darker value over the indented area, then this would achieve bright white hair due to the shadows of the marks being coated with a darker graphite. I have just tried this, and I am delighted with the results!

First, congratulations for experimenting! I mean that sincerely. There's only one way to learn, and that’s TO DO. Hopefully I and others can steer you in certain directions, but it's ultimately down to what you discover for yourself.
Second, I can't see an 8H indented line producing WHITE hairs. Very light hairs, yes. But you've already filled the indent with 8H. For true white hairs, you need to indent with a stylus. I use a needle (slightly blunted on an oilstone) and mounted in an old clutch pencil. And I have a round-tipped sewing-up/darning needle for thicker hairs.

Personally, I use 8H indenting only for the irises in eyes, not for hair. All my hairs are pure white and indented with one of my styluses. Then I have the option to fill that indent or not.

But then I thought would I use an undercoat of a softer value than the 8H first and then use the 8H to indent the darker value into the paper to achieve dark hairs? And after that, then the excess darker value could be lifted with blue tack, which would leave the dark hair that I was after? I have tried this, and it did seem to work well. But I am unsure if I have gone a very long way around to make these dark fine hairs stand out?

I can see how that might work, but I'm concerned that it's not necessarily repeatable - at least, not consistently. Much like the way I have used hard grades under soft ones to create highlights in dark hair... it works, but I can't guarantee it, so I rarely use it.
What I do use is techniques I know I can rely on. And in the case of your indenting on dark shading... I'd simply indent with my stylus to create a pristine white hair, and then draw into the stylus if I wanted it darker. That also means I'm not contaminating the paper around with shading that I know I'm going to remove.

But, as I said earlier, you need to discover what works for you, and then go with that.

Oh, I just read through that and need to add this:
Even if your indenting of dark hairs works, after the removal of the excess shading you now have a dark hair on a white scalp. That's a common error. It never naturally occurs. All hair shades the skin beneath it. And the reason we can visually detect the edges of hairs is because the scalp or skin behind it is darker.

If, as I described, you indent white hairs with a stylus, you can then shade over them to create the dark skin behind. And then, now the hairs exist in their environment, you can individually tone the hairs down appropriately.

Dear Mike.
Thank you for your time. You have responded in a way that makes me feel I am having a one to one chat with you ... which is wonderful.
All of these new feelings - that I have experienced whilst learning with you - are also an uplift to my art work. I want to dive in deeper. I want to know more. But at the same time I don't want to fall into the art-valley too deeply or quickly ... as I may not be able to control the descent! So, I will do my best to take time in my study with you Mike.
Thanks again and best wishes.
From Andrew

A word of warning... if you're working your way through the videos, and you reach anything in the (Intermediate) Creative Series, such as 'Creating Textures Part 1', then....

WHOA!!! Without practice, that's too far.

Stay within the Basic Technique series. By all means, watch them all in sequence and maybe a few times, but eventually you need to draw. So, pick your favourite subject, or just draw anything, and practice the techniques you've watched.

You WILL make errors, but those are what you learn from. And if you get stuck, watch the relevant video again.

The main thread here is PRACTICE. If you don't draw, you'll quickly forget everything you watched. And what you do watch won't make so much sense.

If you prefer some sort of structure to work with, head over to Drawspace.com and purchase my eBook: Details and Link here ($19.99 USD).

That book and the videos go together. The book features Resources and connected Activities (exercises to help you get acquainted with each technique).