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home·artworks·Gideon and the Angel
Gideon and the Angel by Ferdinand Bol

plate no. 0800

Gideon and the Angel

Ferdinand Bol, 1640

printBaroquereligious paintingangelfigureforestreligious sceneGideon
experienced study

Recreating this print will help students understand the use of hatching and cross-hatching to create value and form. It also provides practice in depicting complex figures and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
5
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the main elements of the landscape.

  2. step 02

    Establish the darkest areas of the image using dense hatching and cross-hatching.

  3. step 03

    Gradually build up the mid-tones by varying the spacing and density of the lines.

  4. step 04

    Use lighter, more delicate lines to define the highlights and create a sense of form.

  5. step 05

    Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to suggest the contours of the figures and objects.

  6. step 06

    Refine the details of the faces and drapery, using fine lines to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow.

  7. step 07

    Add texture to the landscape elements, such as the trees and rocks, using a variety of hatching techniques.

  8. step 08

    Make final adjustments to the values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary ·

This is a monochrome print, so the focus is on creating a range of values using black ink or graphite.

techniques

  • ·hatching
  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·stippling
  • ·contour drawing
  • ·value shading

common pitfalls

  • →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
  • →Using lines that are too uniform or mechanical.
  • →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
  • →Not varying the pressure and spacing of the lines to create a range of values.

materials

surface · Smooth drawing paper

required

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

optional

  • ·Ink
  • ·Fine liner pens
  • ·Tracing paper

Use a variety of pencil grades to achieve a full range of values. A blending stump can be used to soften the transitions between tones.

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chiaroscuro →how to learn by studying the masters →
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