plate no. 2231
Male Head
Bartolomeo Passerotti, 1570
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in cross-hatching, line weight variation, and understanding form through tonal values. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and expression of a human face.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
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 main planes of the face with light lines, indicating the brow line, nose, and mouth.
- step 03
Begin adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, using varying line weights to define form.
- step 04
Sketch the outline of the hair, focusing on the overall shape and flow of the curls.
- step 05
Use cross-hatching to build up shadows and create depth in the face and hair.
- step 06
Vary the density of the cross-hatching to create different tonal values.
- step 07
Add finer details to the hair, such as individual strands and highlights.
- step 08
Refine the overall drawing, adjusting proportions and adding final details.
color palette
primary · sepia ink · raw umber
secondary · ivory black
Vary ink dilution with water to achieve different tonal values. Use multiple layers to build up darker areas.
techniques
- ·cross-hatching
- ·line weight variation
- ·contour drawing
- ·rendering form with value
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the sketch.
- →Making the cross-hatching too uniform and lacking variation.
- →Not paying attention to proportions and creating a distorted likeness.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.
materials
surface · smooth drawing paper
required
- ·smooth paper
- ·sepia ink
- ·fine liner pens (various sizes)
- ·HB pencil
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·ruler
optional
- ·watercolor brush
- ·drawing board
- ·blending stump
Use archival quality ink to ensure the longevity of the drawing.
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