plate no. 6565

Mentor Thaqi

pencil, paperContemporary Realismportraitportraitfiguremanheadwearclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in portrait proportions, shading with pencil, and creating a sense of depth using varied line weights and hatching techniques. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and hat, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Refine the sketch, adding details like the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
step 03
Begin shading the face, using light pencil strokes to build up the values.
step 04
Focus on creating depth and dimension in the facial features, using darker tones in the shadows.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and hat, using similar shading techniques.
step 06
Create the background with loose, gestural strokes of blue and brown.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding details as needed.
step 08
Add the signature in red.

color palette

primary · graphite gray · white (paper)

secondary · light blue · burnt sienna

The blue and brown are used very sparingly to create a subtle background wash. The gray tones are achieved through varying pressure and layering of graphite.

techniques