plate no. 2448
Drawing of a man
Nikos Nikolaou, 1929
some experience helpful
This painting provides an opportunity to practice figure drawing, focusing on anatomical accuracy and rendering light and shadow to create form. Students will develop skills in tonal values and creating depth with a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall figure proportions and pose.
- step 02
Establish the main light source and shadow areas.
- step 03
Begin blocking in the darkest values with a diluted wash.
- step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones, paying attention to the form of the muscles.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, hands, and torso.
- step 06
Add highlights to emphasize the light areas.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend tones for a smooth transition.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · titanium white
Achieve a range of values by diluting the umber and black with water or solvent. Use white sparingly for highlights.
techniques
- ·value studies
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·blending
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early.
- →Ignoring the underlying anatomical structure.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of smooth transitions.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·drawing paper (toned or white)
- ·blending stumps
- ·soft brushes
- ·fixative spray
optional
- ·ruler
- ·grid
- ·sandpaper block
Toned paper can help establish mid-tones more easily. Use a variety of charcoal pencils to achieve different levels of darkness.
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