Man smoking by Thalia Flora-Karavia

plate no. 8461

Man smoking

Thalia Flora-Karavia

oilExpressionismsketch and studyfigureportraitmansmokingsuit

some experience helpful

This drawing helps develop skills in capturing likeness and using line weight to suggest form and shadow. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

2

brushwork visibility

4

value contrast

3

compositional simplicity

4

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall proportions and pose of the figure.
step 02
Focus on the head, establishing the basic shapes of the face and hairline.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the angles and proportions of the nose, eyes, and mouth.
step 04
Sketch the outline of the suit and tie, simplifying the folds and details.
step 05
Add darker lines to define the shadows and contours of the face and clothing.
step 06
Use hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variations and suggest volume.
step 07
Pay attention to the negative space around the figure to improve accuracy.
step 08
Add final details and refine the overall composition.

color palette

primary · charcoal gray · tan

secondary ·

The drawing primarily uses charcoal gray on a tan background. Varying the pressure of the charcoal creates different shades.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overworking details too early
→Incorrect proportions
→Ignoring negative space
→Using uniform line weight

materials

surface · toned tan sketch paper

required

·charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
·sketch paper (toned tan)
·kneaded eraser
·pencil sharpener

optional

·tortillon (blending stump)
·fixative spray

Using toned paper allows for both adding highlights and shadows with charcoal.

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