apprentice
artistsserieslearnchatartworkscommunity gallery
apprentice

deliberate practice for serious artists

aboutgalleryprivacyterms
built by reducibl.com
home·artworks·Old Man's Head
Old Man's Head by Nicolas Toussaint Charlet

plate no. 1894

Old Man's Head

Nicolas Toussaint Charlet, 1845

pencilRomanticismportraitportraitheadmanbeardprofile
suitable for beginners

Recreating this drawing will help students develop their understanding of tonal values and how to create form using shading. It's also a good exercise in capturing likeness and proportion.

technical profile

palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
5

study guide

est. 4 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the basic shape of the head and facial features.

  2. step 02

    Establish the main light and shadow areas.

  3. step 03

    Begin to build up the darker tones using hatching and cross-hatching.

  4. step 04

    Soften edges and blend tones to create a smooth transition between light and shadow.

  5. step 05

    Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.

  6. step 06

    Refine the beard and hair, paying attention to the direction of the strokes.

  7. step 07

    Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.

  8. step 08

    Check proportions and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · graphite · white

secondary ·

Varying pressure on the pencil creates different shades of gray.

techniques

  • ·hatching
  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·blending
  • ·tonal shading
  • ·contour drawing

common pitfalls

  • →Applying too much pressure too early, making it difficult to erase mistakes.
  • →Not paying attention to proportions, resulting in a distorted likeness.
  • →Over-blending, which can flatten the form.
  • →Ignoring the direction of the light source.

materials

surface · smooth drawing paper

required

  • ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
  • ·Eraser
  • ·Kneaded eraser
  • ·Drawing paper
  • ·Blending stump or tortillon
  • ·Pencil sharpener

optional

  • ·Ruler
  • ·Fixative spray

Use a variety of pencils to achieve different tonal values. A kneaded eraser is useful for lifting graphite without damaging the paper.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

how to draw →how to learn by studying the masters →
chat about this artwork

in this vein

related artworks

Romantic Landscape

Romantic Landscape

Karl Lessing

Self-portrait with his brother Francesco

Self-portrait with his brother Francesco

Giuseppe Tominz

Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie

Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie

Léon Cogniet

Duke of Alba

Duke of Alba

Francisco Goya

Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal

Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal

Andreas Achenbach

Young Girl Fixing Her Hair

Young Girl Fixing Her Hair

Sophie Gengembre Anderson

The Plough Inn

The Plough Inn

William Shayer

Hudson River Landscape

Hudson River Landscape

Johann Hermann Carmiencke