plate no. 4123
La France Dans L'afrique Occidentale
Edouard Riou, 1889
some experience helpful
Recreating this image will help students develop skills in rendering figures with accurate proportions and capturing subtle tonal variations to create depth and form. It also provides practice in creating textures and patterns using line work.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of the figures.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes of the figures and the background wall.
- step 03
Start adding darker values to define the shadows and create depth.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to folds and textures.
- step 05
Refine the facial features and expressions of the figures.
- step 06
Add details to the background wall and ground to create a sense of environment.
- step 07
Adjust the overall contrast and values to create a cohesive image.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the drawing.
color palette
primary · black · white · grey
secondary ·
Varying the ratio of black to white will achieve the different shades of grey.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·stippling
- ·value shading
common pitfalls
- →Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details before establishing the overall values.
- →Creating overly harsh or flat shadows.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in tone and texture.
materials
surface · smooth drawing paper
required
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·drawing paper
- ·eraser
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
optional
- ·tortillon
- ·blending stump
- ·charcoal pencils
Use a variety of pencil grades to achieve a full range of values. A kneaded eraser is helpful for lifting graphite and creating highlights.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Romantic Landscape
Karl Lessing
Self-portrait with his brother Francesco
Giuseppe Tominz
Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie
Léon Cogniet
Duke of Alba
Francisco Goya
Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal
Andreas Achenbach
Young Girl Fixing Her Hair
Sophie Gengembre Anderson
The Plough Inn
William Shayer
Hudson River Landscape
Johann Hermann Carmiencke