Mini-Lesson: Crosshatching in Pen with France Van Stone

During my military career During the Vietnam War Era, I was fortunate to draw for the Stars and Stripes publication. I too enjoyed using what was reasonably like the modern day Sharpies & what my precious daughter bought me, Prismacolor Premier markers. You are wonder teacher. God bless you always.

Amazing work. Magnificent.

Absolutely stunning! I wish so much to take your course. Unfortunately I am medically disabled and have absolutely no income. I am so happy you have given us some tutorials to show us your process. I want to learn so much from you! Working strictly in pen is how I started my art journey only a year and a half ago. I'm so happy I did that because I have learned not to fear it and to work my "mistakes" into my piece and not get hyper focused on tiny details. I also jumped off by drawing 100 hands in 30 days. I knew artists tended to complain about how difficult hands were for them so I took that as a challenge and am confident in that area. Depth and values are very different me. I wa born without depth perception so I have really struggled with creating it in my art. I have really loved seeing how incredible people can make something with just a ball point pen! I love scribble art and cross hatching and stippling. Funny, for someone without depth perception you'd think I'd be more drawn to cartoons or comic book type stuff. But I hated cartoons as a kid and haven't found that genre interesting to me at all, although I have a great deal of respect for it now. I truly love your work and the way you stop when you feel you have captured the likeness and are happy with it which keeps you from overworking it or making it like everybody else's art. Thank you for sharing some of your process here.. I wish so much I could take your class. But I am stuck with YouTube and IG which have been wonderful in my study of art and the tutorials are absolutely fantastic! I know your class will do amazing things for many artists out there. It's wonderful when an artist of you caliber offers to pass down their knowledge and experience to budding artists like me.

Not only is your drawing amazing and inspiring, but your voice is absolutely wondeful to listen to. I appreciate that you talked while drawing as opposed to a voice over recording, and that you didn't put any background music, so that we also get to hear your hatching. Love the authenticity!

Legit, I just subscribed for the very reason you're not flexing on fancy paper and pens. Some artists draw most on what's common around them. Thank you for keeping it real.

Frances is simply amazing... she has the necessary patience to cross-hatch and her drawings come so realistic.

I appreciate your assertive lines. I enjoyed the presentation. Thank you!

Phenomenal- thank you for the inspiration!

Masterful sense and execution of light and shade and shape. Bravo !

I have watched it several times and inspired me to learn crosshatching techniques. What an amazing skill . A stunning piece of artwork!

A real Artist ❤️

Love your work

A hands-down WOW!

Marvelous video thank you, i appreciate your direct and uncomplicated approach to drawing! I've been making flat crosshatching but never thought to curve the lines and leave the highlights absent of ink :-) Merry Christmas from the US and have a wonderful year ;-)

very interesting and accessible. Not overcomplicated. Like it.

Amazing, inspiring, just awesome

early on when I started picking up sketching again, I did fall into the trap of thinking better equipment = better skills. I spent a bunch and realized that I preferred the simple pens/pencil that I had used to draw casually all throughout highschool, college. haven't spent a dime on pens since... but sketch books, oh, i don't cheap out on those. 😂

Thanks great demo

Fascinating!!!

Beautiful!!!! Woooooooow you are so talented and an amazing teacher ! Thank you ❤