plate no. 0416
Charly Garcia
some experience helpful
This drawing helps students practice rendering form with charcoal and creating tonal variations. It also provides experience in capturing likeness and details in a portrait.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and shoulders, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with broad charcoal strokes.
- step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 04
Add details to the hair and clothing, using varied pressure to create different tones.
- step 05
Define the edges of the hat and glasses with darker lines.
- step 06
Blend the charcoal to create smooth transitions between values.
- step 07
Add highlights with a kneaded eraser.
- step 08
Finalize details and adjust values to achieve the desired contrast.
color palette
primary · sepia · white
secondary ·
Varying pressure and blending techniques create different shades of sepia.
techniques
- ·charcoal blending
- ·value shading
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·erasing highlights
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the charcoal and losing the initial sketch
- →Failing to establish a full range of values
- →Not paying attention to proportions
- →Smudging the drawing
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
- ·drawing paper
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·blending stump
- ·fixative spray
- ·pencil sharpener
optional
- ·tortillon
- ·chamois cloth
- ·ruler
Use a paper with a slight tooth to grip the charcoal well. Fixative spray is essential to prevent smudging.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
related artworks
Dolly Sisters
Kees van Dongen
Nude with Loaves
Jean Helion
My Father
Carlos Botelho
Helen
Chronis Botsoglou
The portrait painter in the country
Albin Egger-Lienz
Marketta on Lázeňská street, Prague
Maria Bozoky
Winter at the Entrepotdok, in Amsterdam city
Paul Werner
Old Woman with Masks (Theatre of Masks)
James Ensor