plate no. 9870

A Portrait of an Indian Lady.

Xu Beihong, 1940

oilRealismportraitportraitfigurewomanheadscarfjewelryface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in accurately capturing proportions and using tonal values to create form and depth. It's a good exercise in understanding light and shadow on a human face.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape and proportions of the head, shoulders, and headscarf.
step 02
Refine the sketch, paying close attention to the facial features and their placement.
step 03
Begin shading the darkest areas, such as the hair and shadows under the chin and around the eyes.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones, blending the values to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Add highlights to the face and headscarf to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Pay attention to the details of the jewelry and the folds of the headscarf.
step 07
Soften edges where needed to create a more realistic effect.
step 08
Add final touches and refine the values to achieve the desired level of contrast.

color palette

primary · graphite · white

secondary · light gray · dark gray

Varying pressure and using blending techniques will create the different shades of gray. Use white paper as the highlight.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·blending
·tonal shading
·contour drawing

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions can significantly alter the likeness.
→Overworking the shadows can make the portrait look muddy.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value can flatten the form.
→Failing to capture the correct facial expression can result in a lifeless portrait.

materials

surface · Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)

required

·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
·Eraser
·Blending stump or tortillon
·Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)
·Kneaded eraser
·Pencil sharpener

optional

·Ruler
·Fixative spray
·White charcoal pencil

Choose a good quality drawing paper that can withstand blending and erasing. Using a range of graphite pencils will allow for a wider range of values.

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