What do you get when you cross squiggles with circles? You get Squirkles! Squirkling is a method of shading incorperating randomly draw curved lines to create textured values.

Preview lesson D01 - Squirkling Values

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I love the squirkling.....It is a very relaxing and mezmerizing practice. I have to be careful not to get carried away and pay attention to what I'm doing. I'm glad there's a name for what this is now.
Patronela

I also enjoy doing squirkles

i am enjoying

what is that...how do you do it....im confused.....is that just drawing sqiggles rounded all over the place...helpo

So that's how it's done

So that's how it's done

Cool. Learn a lot. Thanks

I too liked it...tried it...not bad!!!thanks...

I love the way that innocent squirkles can turn a plain drawing into a work of art......if you are patient enough

Well, I don't get it! Maybe it's the patience I lack, the subject matter OR....anyone have any other possibilities????

I cannot understand the significance of this exercise/principle. It only seems to ADD to frustration. Any other perspectives or illustrations as to how you've found it helpful is appreciated.

I found it adds a different texture to my portraits.
I used to do more of a cross hatching, but I find I get more control and a more realistic
texture using the 'squirkles'.

This is a good and useful lesson. I'm sure I will use this as a value scale and pencil guide.

This is my first attempt at squirkling. I can see it will be in my sketching future indefinitely! This is how they do it. Hatching, cross hatching, squirkling, and lines. It will all combine to a completed drawing. I can't wait. I think this is a pretty good first attempt. Don't you think....

Hi everybody

i want to show you my first squirkling that i made.
This is for my man

Hugs, Trinity from Germany

I love it, could do it all day

very..Interesting lesson

Here r' ma shades..

It was a really useful lesson. Judging by the look of it squirkling seems to be difficult, but it isn't that much. Thank you.

well, i think i understand the lesson pretty well I'll just have to practice and practice to make it perfect...

My graduation of squirkles based on the lesson. I decided to make 2 sets and rub one to see the results. Open for comments.

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[size="4"][/size][color="#483D8B"][/color]As usual an important lesson.

Thank you for a very interesting lesson. I have read somewhere that using squirkling when shading a dog's nose can produce very good results. Must try this some time.
I have definitely benefited from this lesson.

I was stuck in my ways of shading how I always did it. But just tried squirkling (with the pupil of iris lesson) and it is actually far better than my way of shading. Will use this in future.