plate no. 7536

Konrad Mörlin, Benediktinerabt an St. Ulrich und Afra, Augsburg

drawingNorthern Renaissanceportraitportraitfigureheadhoodreligious figuremonk

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in hatching and cross-hatching for creating tonal values and textures, as well as understanding portrait proportions and facial features.

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 of the head, hood, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out areas of light and shadow.
step 03
Begin adding details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to build up the tonal values, starting with the darker areas.
step 05
Pay attention to the direction of the lines to create form and texture.
step 06
Add details to the hood and clothing, using similar hatching techniques.
step 07
Refine the drawing by adding highlights and deepening shadows.
step 08
Add the inscription in the upper right corner.

color palette

primary · black · white · gray

secondary · sepia

Varying the pressure and density of pencil strokes creates different shades of gray. Sepia can be used to add warmth to the shadows.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·contour drawing
·value shading
·line weight variation

common pitfalls

→Not paying attention to proportions, resulting in a distorted face.
→Using lines that are too uniform, creating a flat and lifeless drawing.
→Overworking the drawing, resulting in a muddy and unclear image.
→Ignoring the direction of the light source, resulting in inconsistent shadows.

materials

surface · Smooth drawing paper

required

·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
·Eraser
·Drawing paper
·Blending stump or tortillon
·Ruler

optional

·Sepia ink
·Fine liner pens
·Kneaded eraser

Use a variety of pencils to achieve different tonal values. Experiment with different hatching and cross-hatching techniques to find what works best for you.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

how to learn by studying the masters →

chat about this artwork

in this vein