plate no. 0862
Head of a Young Woman
Matthias Grünewald, 1520
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in accurately capturing proportions and using subtle shading to create form. It also provides practice in rendering fine details and textures with chalk.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape of the head and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Establish the main angles and lines of the face (eyes, nose, mouth).
- step 03
Begin adding darker values in the areas of shadow, such as under the chin and around the eyes.
- step 04
Use a blending stump or finger to soften the chalk and create smooth transitions between values.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, paying attention to the direction of the strands.
- step 06
Refine the features of the face, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
- step 07
Add the details of the clothing and any other background elements.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a finished drawing.
color palette
primary · black chalk · white chalk
secondary · gray
Varying pressure and layering will create different shades of gray. Use white chalk sparingly for highlights.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·tonal shading
- ·line weight variation
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the sketch.
- →Not paying attention to proportions and creating a distorted image.
- →Using too much pressure and creating harsh lines.
- →Failing to blend the chalk properly and creating a muddy effect.
materials
surface · toned paper
required
- ·white chalk
- ·black chalk
- ·toned paper
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·blending stump
- ·fixative spray
optional
- ·charcoal pencils
- ·ruler
- ·grid
Choose a toned paper that is smooth and has a slight tooth to it. This will allow the chalk to adhere to the surface and create a range of values.
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