Crosshatching is one of the most challenging—and rewarding—ways to draw. It asks you to slow down, pay attention, and commit to every mark you make. When done well, it creates drawings that feel structured, expressive, and alive.
In Secrets of Crosshatching (G-Rated), Douglas Simonson shares his approach to crosshatching through years of real studio practice. This edition presents the same techniques and explanations as the X-rated version, but without nudity—making it suitable for a wider range of viewers, classrooms, and working environments.
You’ll see finished drawings alongside breakdowns, progressions, and reference images, with clear explanations of how line direction affects form, how spacing and pressure control value, and how variation brings a drawing to life. The emphasis is on decision-making: where to build density, where to simplify, and when to stop.
This e-book does not teach rigid rules or shortcuts. Instead, it shows how an experienced artist thinks through a drawing, balancing control with looseness and precision with expression.
This product is a digital e-book. After purchase, you can download it and keep it on your computer, tablet, or phone, so it’s always available when you need guidance or inspiration—whether you’re in the studio, classroom, or traveling.
If you want to understand crosshatching as a flexible, expressive tool rather than a mechanical technique, this e-book offers a thoughtful, experience-based guide.