apprentice
artistsserieslearnchatartworkscommunity gallery
apprentice

deliberate practice for serious artists

aboutgalleryprivacyterms
built by reducibl.com
home·artworks·daniel's Prayer
daniel's Prayer by Edward Poynter

plate no. 8829

daniel's Prayer

Edward Poynter, 1865

oilRomanticismreligious paintingfigureinteriorprayerarchitecturelightshadow
experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex textures and patterns using hatching and cross-hatching techniques, as well as understanding light and shadow to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Create a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and perspective.

  2. step 02

    Outline the main shapes and forms, including the figure, architecture, and drapery.

  3. step 03

    Begin adding details using light hatching to establish the basic values and shadows.

  4. step 04

    Gradually build up darker values by adding more layers of hatching and cross-hatching.

  5. step 05

    Focus on rendering the textures of the clothing, carpet, and architectural details.

  6. step 06

    Pay close attention to the direction of light and how it affects the shadows.

  7. step 07

    Refine the details and add highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.

  8. step 08

    Make final adjustments to the values and contrast to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary · gray

Vary the density of hatching to simulate shades of gray.

techniques

  • ·hatching
  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·value shading
  • ·texture rendering
  • ·line weight variation

common pitfalls

  • →overworking the details
  • →creating muddy values
  • →ignoring the direction of light
  • →inaccurate proportions
  • →uneven hatching

materials

surface · smooth drawing paper

required

  • ·smooth paper
  • ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
  • ·eraser
  • ·ruler
  • ·pencil sharpener
  • ·kneaded eraser

optional

  • ·tortillon
  • ·blending stump
  • ·mechanical pencil

Use a variety of pencil grades to achieve a full range of values. Keep your pencils sharp for crisp lines and details.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

oil painting for beginners →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