
plate no. 4048
Julian Ashton, 1893
This painting offers a good opportunity to practice creating depth using value and line variation. Students can also learn to suggest details rather than rendering them precisely, capturing the impression of a scene.
technical profile
approach — 8 steps
Lightly sketch the main shapes and perspective lines of the buildings and street.
Establish the darkest areas first, such as the shadows under the buildings and figures.
Add the mid-tones to define the forms of the buildings and figures.
Use hatching and cross-hatching to create texture and value variations.
Suggest details in the background with lighter, less defined lines.
Refine the details in the foreground, focusing on the figures and street.
Add highlights to create contrast and bring out the forms.
Step back and adjust values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
color palette
primary · black · white · gray
secondary · sepia · ivory
Vary the shades of gray by mixing black and white in different proportions. Use sepia to add warmth to certain areas and ivory to create highlights.
techniques
common pitfalls
surface · drawing paper
required
optional
Use a smooth drawing paper for best results. Experiment with different pencil grades to achieve a range of values.
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