plate no. 8120

Friedrich Schmidt, Der Erstplaner Des Lienzer Pfarrturms

oilRealismportraitportraitmanbeardhatfigureclothing

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in rendering form with hatching and cross-hatching techniques, and in creating subtle value gradations to suggest light and shadow. Students can also learn to simplify details and focus on capturing the overall likeness and mood of the subject.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas with charcoal or dark pencil, focusing on the hat, background shadows, and areas under the chin and around the eyes.
step 03
Begin layering lighter values using hatching and cross-hatching, gradually building up the form of the face and beard.
step 04
Use a blending stump or soft cloth to soften some of the edges and create smoother transitions between values.
step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, using sharper lines to define the features.
step 06
Add texture to the beard and hair using short, broken lines and varying the pressure of your pencil.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and contrast to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final highlights to catch the light and bring the portrait to life.

color palette

primary · sepia · ivory black · raw umber

secondary · cream · warm gray

Mix sepia and ivory black for the darkest values. Use raw umber and cream to create lighter skin tones. Vary the ratios to achieve subtle value changes.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·blending
·value gradation
·rendering form

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall form.
→Creating harsh lines and neglecting smooth value transitions.
→Failing to establish a strong value range.
→Not paying attention to proportions.

materials

surface · drawing paper

required

·drawing paper
·charcoal pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
·graphite pencils (HB, 2B)
·kneaded eraser
·blending stump
·ruler
·pencil sharpener

optional

·tortillon
·fixative spray
·drawing board

Use a smooth or slightly textured drawing paper for best results. Experiment with different grades of charcoal and graphite pencils to achieve a range of values.

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