plate no. 6816
Man with fur hat
some experience helpful
This painting provides a good exercise in rendering textures using charcoal or graphite. Students can develop skills in creating subtle tonal variations and capturing the form of a subject through careful observation and mark-making.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic outline of the head, shoulders, and hat.
- step 02
Establish the overall value range by lightly shading the background.
- step 03
Begin adding darker values to define the shadows on the face and clothing.
- step 04
Develop the texture of the fur hat using short, directional strokes.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
- step 06
Add highlights to the face, hat, and scarf to create a sense of form.
- step 07
Strengthen the darkest areas to increase contrast.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to values and details to complete the portrait.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · white
secondary · yellow ochre
Mix raw umber and ivory black to create a range of neutral grays. Use white to lighten these mixtures for highlights. A touch of yellow ochre can be added to warm the skin tones.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·value gradation
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the strokes.
- →Failing to establish a clear value range.
- →Ignoring the direction of the fur when rendering the hat.
- →Creating overly harsh lines that flatten the form.
materials
surface · toned drawing paper
required
- ·charcoal pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·drawing paper (toned tan or gray)
- ·blending stump
- ·fixative spray
- ·ruler
optional
- ·white chalk pencil
- ·sandpaper block
Using toned paper will help to establish the mid-tones and make it easier to create highlights and shadows.
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