plate no. 5439
Discreet (discrète)
Paul-Albert Besnard, 1900
some experience helpful
This artwork provides an opportunity to practice hatching and cross-hatching techniques to create form and value. Students can also learn about creating a sense of atmosphere and mood through line work.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the bed, figure, and the Grim Reaper.
- step 02
Establish the light source (candle) and the darkest areas of the composition.
- step 03
Begin hatching the background with vertical lines, varying the density to create depth.
- step 04
Use cross-hatching to build up darker values in the shadows and on the Grim Reaper.
- step 05
Add details to the bed and figure, using short, directional lines to define form.
- step 06
Refine the light around the candle, using lighter lines and leaving some areas untouched.
- step 07
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and atmospheric image.
color palette
primary · black · sepia
secondary · cream
Vary the dilution of black ink or paint with water to achieve different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·line weight variation
- ·atmospheric perspective
common pitfalls
- →Making the lines too uniform and losing the sense of depth.
- →Overworking the dark areas and losing detail.
- →Ignoring the direction of the lines and creating a flat image.
- →Not varying the line weight enough to create contrast.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·drawing paper
- ·graphite pencil
- ·fine liner pen
- ·black ink
- ·watercolor brush
- ·eraser
optional
- ·ruler
- ·magnifying glass
- ·sepia ink
Use a smooth paper for easier line work. Experiment with different pen sizes to vary line weight.
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