plate no. 3332
Deep Shadows
Grace Albee, 1929
experienced study
Recreating this engraving will help students understand value relationships and how to create depth using hatching and cross-hatching techniques. It will also develop skills in rendering architectural details and figures in a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
1
value contrast
5
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and composition.
- step 02
Identify the areas of darkest shadow and begin filling them in with dense hatching.
- step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones using lighter hatching and cross-hatching.
- step 04
Pay close attention to the direction of the light and how it affects the forms.
- step 05
Add details such as windows, doors, and figures using fine lines.
- step 06
Refine the values and add highlights to create contrast.
- step 07
Use stippling to create texture on the cobblestone street.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · black · white
secondary · gray
Varying degrees of gray are achieved through the density and layering of black lines.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·stippling
- ·value gradation
- ·line weight variation
common pitfalls
- →overworking the shadows
- →creating flat, lifeless areas
- →ignoring the direction of light
- →losing the overall composition
materials
surface · smooth drawing paper
required
- ·smooth paper
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·eraser
- ·ruler
- ·fine-tipped drawing pens (various sizes)
- ·sharpener
optional
- ·tracing paper
- ·light box
- ·magnifying glass
Use a variety of pencil grades and pen sizes to achieve different line weights and values.
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