apprentice
artistsserieslearnchatartworkscommunity gallery
apprentice

deliberate practice for serious artists

aboutgalleryprivacyterms
built by reducibl.com
home·artworks·Beggar portrait
Beggar portrait by Nicolas Toussaint Charlet

plate no. 1873

Beggar portrait

Nicolas Toussaint Charlet

charcoalRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremanbeardhaircharcoal
some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in tonal shading, capturing form with loose strokes, and creating depth through layering of charcoal.

technical profile

palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the overall shape of the head and shoulders.

  2. step 02

    Establish the main proportions of the face: position of eyes, nose, mouth.

  3. step 03

    Begin adding darker values in the hair and beard, using hatching and cross-hatching.

  4. step 04

    Develop the shadows on the face, paying attention to the planes of the face.

  5. step 05

    Soften edges and blend some areas with a blending stump or finger.

  6. step 06

    Add highlights by lifting charcoal with a kneaded eraser.

  7. step 07

    Refine details in the eyes and mouth.

  8. step 08

    Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · charcoal grey · light grey

secondary · white

Vary the pressure and layering of charcoal to achieve different shades of gray. Use a kneaded eraser to lift charcoal and create highlights.

techniques

  • ·hatching
  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·tonal shading
  • ·blending
  • ·lifting

common pitfalls

  • →Applying too much pressure too early, making it difficult to erase.
  • →Over-blending, resulting in a muddy or flat appearance.
  • →Ignoring the underlying structure of the face.
  • →Not using a kneaded eraser to create highlights.

materials

surface · toned grey drawing paper

required

  • ·charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
  • ·kneaded eraser
  • ·blending stump
  • ·drawing paper (toned grey)
  • ·pencil sharpener
  • ·fixative spray

optional

  • ·ruler
  • ·tortillon
  • ·chamois cloth

Using toned paper will help to establish the mid-tones and make it easier to create highlights and shadows.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

how to draw →how to learn by studying the masters →
chat about this artwork

in this vein

related artworks

Romantic Landscape

Romantic Landscape

Karl Lessing

Self-portrait with his brother Francesco

Self-portrait with his brother Francesco

Giuseppe Tominz

Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie

Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie

Léon Cogniet

Duke of Alba

Duke of Alba

Francisco Goya

Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal

Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal

Andreas Achenbach

Young Girl Fixing Her Hair

Young Girl Fixing Her Hair

Sophie Gengembre Anderson

The Plough Inn

The Plough Inn

William Shayer

Hudson River Landscape

Hudson River Landscape

Johann Hermann Carmiencke