plate no. 0307
Master Hossein Behzad(Miniaturist)
Morteza Katouzian, 1991
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering of light and shadow, and creating texture with pastel and pencil. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and character of a subject.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition and proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Refine the sketch, focusing on the facial features and hand.
- step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with light pencil strokes.
- step 04
Begin layering pastel to build up the mid-tones and darker values.
- step 05
Use white pastel to highlight the lightest areas, such as the hair and parts of the face.
- step 06
Blend the pastel layers to create smooth transitions and soft edges.
- step 07
Add details with sharpened pencils to define features and textures.
- step 08
Finalize the drawing by adjusting values and adding subtle color variations.
color palette
primary · white · brown · tan
secondary · yellow · green
The key is to use the paper color as a mid-tone and build up highlights with white and shadows with darker browns. Subtle greens and yellows are used for background and skin tone variations.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·highlighting
- ·rendering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the initial sketch.
- →Getting the proportions wrong, especially in the facial features.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · toned paper
required
- ·toned paper
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·white pastel
- ·brown pastel
- ·tan pastel
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·pencil sharpener
optional
- ·tortillon
- ·fixative spray
- ·colored pencils
Choose a toned paper that complements the pastel colors. Experiment with different pastel brands to find the ones you prefer.
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