plate no. 1700
Man sitting frontally in an armchair
suitable for beginners
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in proportion, shading, and creating depth using graphite. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and character of a subject.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the main shapes of the head, torso, arms, and legs.
- step 03
Refine the contours and details of the face, clothing, and chair.
- step 04
Begin adding shading to define the form and create depth.
- step 05
Focus on the areas of darkest value, such as the hat and clothing folds.
- step 06
Gradually build up the mid-tones and highlights.
- step 07
Pay attention to the direction of the light and how it affects the shadows.
- step 08
Add final details and refine the overall composition.
color palette
primary · graphite grey · ivory black
secondary · brown · sepia
Varying pressure and layering of graphite to achieve different shades of grey.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·value shading
- ·contour drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the initial sketch.
- →Failing to establish a strong value range.
- →Ignoring the direction of the light and how it affects the shadows.
- →Getting bogged down in details before establishing the overall form.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·drawing paper
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·pencil sharpener
- ·blending stump
- ·ruler
optional
- ·tortillon
- ·sandpaper block
- ·fixative spray
Use a smooth drawing paper for best results. Consider using a variety of graphite pencils to achieve a full range of values.
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