plate no. 2046

Atahualpa Yupanqui

sepia, paperExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremansepiaheadclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in tonal shading and capturing likeness with simplified lines. It's a good exercise in understanding form with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic head shape and proportions, paying attention to the overall structure.
step 02
Define the main features (eyes, nose, mouth) with light lines, focusing on their placement and size relative to each other.
step 03
Begin adding darker tones to areas of shadow, such as under the nose, around the eyes, and along the jawline.
step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching techniques to build up the tonal values gradually.
step 05
Pay attention to the direction of the strokes to suggest the form and contours of the face.
step 06
Add details to the hair and clothing, using similar shading techniques.
step 07
Soften edges and blend tones where necessary to create a more realistic effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and refine the details to complete the drawing.