plate no. 9346
Old man with ivy wreath and lion's head
Leonardo da Vinci, 1519
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in tonal shading, cross-hatching, and capturing realistic facial features and expressions. It also provides practice in creating texture and detail with chalk.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, neck, and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the main proportions and placement of facial features.
- step 03
Begin adding darker tones in areas of shadow, using cross-hatching.
- step 04
Develop the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle variations in tone.
- step 05
Add the ivy wreath, focusing on the shapes and overlapping of the leaves.
- step 06
Sketch in the lion's head, using lighter lines and less detail.
- step 07
Refine the overall shading and add highlights to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Adjust the background tone to enhance the contrast of the figure.
color palette
primary · red chalk · white chalk
secondary ·
Vary the pressure and layering of red chalk to achieve different tones. Use white chalk sparingly for highlights.
techniques
- ·cross-hatching
- ·tonal shading
- ·blending
- ·line weight variation
- ·contour drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of smooth transitions.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the face.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth through shading.
materials
surface · toned paper
required
- ·Red chalk
- ·White chalk
- ·Paper with a slightly textured surface
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Blending stump or tortillon
- ·Fixative spray
optional
- ·Sandpaper block (for sharpening chalk)
- ·Chamois cloth
Choose a paper with a warm tone that complements the red chalk. Experiment with different types of chalk to find one that suits your style.
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