plate no. 2400

Jan De Visscher

oilBaroqueportraitportraitfigurehairclothingmale

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in line work, shading with hatching, and capturing likeness in portraiture. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth through varying line weight and density.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition and proportions of the figure.
step 02
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 03
Begin adding details to the hair, using curved lines to indicate volume and direction.
step 04
Outline the clothing and add details like buttons and folds.
step 05
Use hatching and cross-hatching to create shadows and define the form.
step 06
Vary the line weight to create depth and emphasis.
step 07
Add final details and refine the overall composition.
step 08
Erase any unnecessary guidelines.

color palette

primary · red chalk · white (paper)

secondary ·

The drawing relies on the contrast between the red chalk and the white of the paper. Varying the pressure and density of the chalk creates different shades.

techniques