plate no. 8660

John the Apostle (Half Length Portrait of a Man with a Pinfeather Looking Up)

chalk, paperNorthern Renaissanceself-portraitportraitfiguremanbeardhairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in value shading, line weight variation, and capturing the likeness of a subject using a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the drawing, such as the hair, beard, and shadows under the chin and around the eyes.
step 03
Begin to build up the mid-tones using hatching and cross-hatching techniques.
step 04
Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to create the illusion of form and volume.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add subtle highlights to the hair, beard, and skin to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Strengthen the outlines and contours of the figure to define the edges.
step 08
Add the details of the clothing and the writing in the upper left corner.

color palette

primary · black · white · sepia

secondary · gray

Create various shades of gray by mixing black and white. Sepia can be used to add warmth to certain areas.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·value shading
·contour drawing
·blending

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish a strong value range.
→Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the initial sketch.
→Ignoring the direction of the lines and creating a flat, lifeless image.
→Getting lost in the details and neglecting the overall composition.

materials

surface · Smooth drawing paper

required

·Charcoal pencils (various grades)
·White chalk pencil
·Kneaded eraser
·Blending stump
·Smooth drawing paper
·Fixative spray

optional

·Sandpaper block
·Pencil extender

Use a paper with a slightly textured surface to allow the charcoal to grip well. Experiment with different grades of charcoal pencils to achieve a range of values.

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