plate no. 4719

French Archaeologist and Numismatist Benjamin Fillon

oilRealismportraitportraitmanclothinghairfacebeard

experienced study

Recreating this image will help students develop skills in line drawing, cross-hatching, and understanding tonal values to create depth and form. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and detail in portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Refine the sketch, paying attention to the angles and curves of the facial features.
step 03
Begin adding the darkest areas of the image using closely spaced lines.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones by adding more lines, varying the spacing and direction to create different values.
step 05
Use cross-hatching to create deeper shadows and add texture.
step 06
Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to convey the form of the subject.
step 07
Add finer details, such as the lines in the face and the texture of the hair and beard.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to achieve a balanced and realistic image.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary · gray

Varying the density and layering of black lines on a white background creates the illusion of gray tones.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·line weight variation
·contour drawing
·rendering form with value

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Creating lines that are too uniform, resulting in a flat, lifeless image.
→Overworking certain areas and losing the overall balance of the image.
→Not varying the line weight enough to create a sense of depth and form.

materials

surface · smooth drawing paper

required

·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
·Eraser
·Smooth drawing paper
·Ruler
·Pencil sharpener
·Blending stump

optional

·kneaded eraser
·tortillon

Use a variety of pencils to achieve different values and textures. Start with lighter pencils for the initial sketch and gradually move to darker pencils for the shadows.

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