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home·artworks·Jaspa and Me
Jaspa and Me by Dorothy Lathrop

plate no. 3789

Jaspa and Me

Dorothy Lathrop, 1949

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)self-portraitportraitmonkeyleavesfigureself-portrait
some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in tonal rendering and creating textures through hatching and stippling. Students can develop skills in capturing likeness and depicting fur and foliage.

technical profile

palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the woman's head and shoulders, the monkey, and the leaves.

  2. step 02

    Establish the darkest areas of the composition, such as the background and shadows on the clothing.

  3. step 03

    Begin adding mid-tones using hatching and cross-hatching techniques, paying attention to the direction of the light.

  4. step 04

    Develop the details of the woman's face, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle shading.

  5. step 05

    Render the monkey's fur using short, curved strokes to create texture and volume.

  6. step 06

    Add details to the leaves, using varying line weights to suggest depth and form.

  7. step 07

    Refine the overall tonal balance, adding highlights and deepening shadows as needed.

  8. step 08

    Add stippling to the background to create a subtle texture.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary ·

Varying the ratio of black to white will create all the necessary shades of gray.

techniques

  • ·hatching
  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·stippling
  • ·tonal rendering
  • ·contour drawing

common pitfalls

  • →Failing to establish a strong value range, resulting in a flat and lifeless image.
  • →Overworking the details too early, before establishing the overall tonal structure.
  • →Inconsistent line weights, which can make the drawing appear disorganized.
  • →Incorrect proportions, particularly in the facial features.

materials

surface · Smooth drawing paper

required

  • ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
  • ·Eraser
  • ·Drawing paper
  • ·Blending stump
  • ·Ruler
  • ·Pencil sharpener

optional

  • ·Kneaded eraser
  • ·Tortillon

Use a variety of pencil grades to achieve a full range of values. Experiment with different hatching and stippling techniques to find what works best for you.

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