plate no. 1670
Head of a girl
Leonardo da Vinci, 1483
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in accurate proportion, subtle shading with hatching, and capturing a likeness. It emphasizes line quality and understanding form through value.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
1
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape and proportions of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the central axis of the face and the placement of key features (eyes, nose, mouth).
- step 03
Refine the contours of the face and hair, paying close attention to the angles and curves.
- step 04
Begin adding shading with light, parallel hatching lines, following the form of the face.
- step 05
Gradually build up the darker values in areas of shadow, using denser hatching.
- step 06
Pay attention to the direction of the hatching lines to convey the form and volume.
- step 07
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the subtle nuances of expression.
- step 08
Refine the overall drawing, adjusting values and adding final details.
color palette
primary · sepia · white
secondary · none
Vary the intensity of sepia by diluting with water or blending with white to create subtle tonal variations.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·contour drawing
- ·value shading
- ·metalpoint technique
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions leading to a distorted likeness.
- →Hatching lines that are too uniform or lack direction.
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the sketch.
- →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of expression.
materials
surface · Prepared paper (coated with gesso or bone dust)
required
- ·Metalpoint stylus
- ·Prepared paper (coated with gesso or bone dust)
- ·Soft cloth
- ·Eraser
- ·Reference image
- ·Drawing board
- ·Pencil (for initial sketch)
optional
- ·Magnifying glass
- ·Blending stump
Prepared paper is crucial for metalpoint. Experiment with different paper coatings to find your preferred surface.
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