plate no. 8234

From the Block: Self-Portrait with the 3rd Eye

drawingSurrealismself-portraitportraitfigureglassesbeardthird eyesurreal

some experience helpful

This drawing helps develop skills in portraiture, shading techniques, and creating depth using graphite pencils. It also encourages exploration of surreal and imaginative concepts.

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, shoulders, and facial features, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Add the glasses and the third eye, ensuring accurate placement and size relative to the other features.
step 03
Begin shading the background with loose, directional strokes to create depth.
step 04
Develop the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth, using darker values to define contours.
step 05
Add details to the beard and hair, using short, overlapping strokes to create texture.
step 06
Refine the shading on the face and neck, paying attention to the light source and creating smooth transitions between values.
step 07
Add final details, such as highlights on the glasses and subtle variations in the skin tone.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, ensuring a balanced and cohesive image.

color palette

primary · graphite

secondary · white (of the paper)

Varying pressure and pencil grade to achieve different shades of gray.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·blending
·value gradation
·contour drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the initial sketch.
→Failing to establish a clear light source, resulting in inconsistent shading.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall composition and proportions.
→Not varying pencil pressure enough to create a full range of values.