plate no. 6015
Joseph Beuys
Enrique Martínez Celaya, 2013
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in portrait proportions, shading with charcoal, and creating texture through expressive mark-making. It also encourages an understanding of value and form in a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
4
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 basic facial features: eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, using light guidelines.
- step 03
Begin adding darker tones to define the shadows and contours of the face.
- step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to build up value and create texture.
- step 05
Focus on capturing the likeness and expression of the subject.
- step 06
Add details to the hair and clothing, using a variety of charcoal techniques.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.
- step 08
Consider adding some plaster to the paper to recreate the original texture.
color palette
primary · charcoal gray · white
secondary · light gray
Varying pressure and layering will create different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·smudging
- ·blending
- ·expressive mark-making
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the spontaneity.
- →Failing to establish accurate proportions early on.
- →Creating muddy values by over-blending.
- →Not varying the pressure and mark-making to create depth and texture.
materials
surface · Drawing paper
required
- ·Charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Drawing paper
- ·Blending stump
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Ruler
optional
- ·Chamois cloth
- ·Sandpaper block
- ·Plaster
Experiment with different types of charcoal and paper to find your preferred combination.
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