plate no. 9126

Head of a Woman from Behind

chalk, paperRococoportraitfigurehairportraitribbonneck

some experience helpful

This drawing is excellent for learning to render form with a limited palette and for practicing cross-hatching techniques to create subtle tonal variations. It also provides practice in capturing the delicate details of hair and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main lines of the hair and ribbon, paying attention to their flow and direction.
step 03
Begin shading the hair with light gray chalk, focusing on the areas in shadow.
step 04
Add darker values to the hair using a darker gray or black chalk, building up the depth of the shadows.
step 05
Use red chalk to add warmth to the skin tones, particularly around the ear and neck.
step 06
Blend the chalk with a blending stump or your finger to create smooth transitions between values.
step 07
Add highlights to the hair and ribbon with white chalk, emphasizing the areas where light is hitting.
step 08
Refine the details of the hair and ribbon, adding individual strands and folds.

color palette

primary · black chalk · white chalk · red chalk

secondary · gray chalk · brown paper

Mix black and white chalk to create various shades of gray. Use light touches of red chalk to warm up the skin tones.

techniques

·cross-hatching
·blending
·tonal shading
·highlighting

common pitfalls

→Overworking the drawing and losing the delicate quality of the chalk.
→Creating harsh lines instead of smooth transitions between values.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the head and shoulders.
→Not paying attention to the direction of the light and shadow.

materials

surface · toned paper

required

·Black chalk
·White chalk
·Red chalk
·Gray chalk
·Tan or brown paper
·Blending stump
·Kneaded eraser

optional

·Fixative spray
·Chamois cloth

Choose a paper with a slightly textured surface to allow the chalk to adhere well. Use a light touch when applying the chalk to avoid damaging the paper.

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