plate no. 4147

Giovanni Gabrielli, 'il Sivello'

chalk, inkBaroquesketch and studyportraitfigureheadsketchmale

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in rendering form with hatching and cross-hatching, as well as understanding tonal values in a limited palette. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression in portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition and proportions of the figure and the head.
step 02
Establish the main shapes and contours of the face and body.
step 03
Begin adding darker values to define shadows and volume, focusing on the face.
step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to build up the tonal range, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and the head, using lighter strokes for highlights.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and contrast to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · black · white · gray

secondary ·

Varying the pressure and density of the chalk or ink will create different shades of gray.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·tonal shading
·contour drawing

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details before establishing the overall values.
→Creating muddy or undefined shadows.
→Not varying the pressure and density of the chalk or ink enough.

materials

surface · drawing paper

required

·Drawing paper
·Charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
·Eraser
·Blending stump or tortillon
·Kneaded eraser

optional

·Fixative spray
·Ruler

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

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