plate no. 5366

Catalan Mercedes in Marseille in 1815

drawingRomanticismillustrationfiguredresslandscapewallhairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students understand value shading and cross-hatching techniques to create form and texture. It also provides practice in figure drawing and capturing the essence of clothing and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the drawing, such as the shadows in the clothing and hair.
step 03
Begin building up the mid-tones using hatching and cross-hatching techniques.
step 04
Focus on creating the texture of the clothing and the stone wall.
step 05
Refine the details of the face and hair, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Add subtle highlights to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.
step 08
Add final details and clean up any stray lines.

color palette

primary · sepia · ivory black

secondary · raw umber · payne's gray

Mix sepia with varying amounts of ivory black to create a range of values. Raw umber can be used to add warmth to the shadows, while payne's gray can be used for cooler tones.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Applying too much pressure when hatching, resulting in dark, heavy lines.
→Not varying the direction of the hatching lines, resulting in a flat, lifeless texture.
→Ignoring the underlying form when shading, resulting in a lack of depth.
→Overworking the drawing, resulting in a muddy, unclear image.

materials

surface · smooth drawing paper

required

·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
·Eraser
·Drawing paper
·Blending stump
·Ruler
·Pencil sharpener

optional

·Kneaded eraser
·Tortillon
·Sandpaper block

Use a variety of graphite pencils to create a full range of values. Experiment with different hatching and cross-hatching techniques to achieve the desired texture.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

how to learn by studying the masters →

chat about this artwork

in this vein