plate no. 1210

Miners

Jackson Pollock, 1938

oilExpressionismgenre paintingminersfigurestunnelindustryshadowslight

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand the use of hatching and cross-hatching to create value and form, and how to use perspective to create depth in a composition.

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 and perspective lines of the tunnel and figures.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with broad, light strokes.
step 03
Begin adding darker values using hatching and cross-hatching, focusing on the areas under the tunnel roof and around the figures.
step 04
Build up the form of the figures by layering hatching to create volume and depth.
step 05
Refine the details of the tunnel structure and the figures' forms.
step 06
Add the darkest values to create strong contrast and define the edges of shapes.
step 07
Soften some edges to create a sense of atmosphere and depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary · gray

Vary the shades of gray by diluting the black ink or graphite with water or blending with white.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·value gradation
·perspective
·contour drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of light and shadow.
→Failing to establish a strong value range, resulting in a flat and lifeless image.
→Ignoring the perspective lines and creating a distorted composition.
→Not varying the pressure of the pencil or pen, resulting in a monotonous texture.