plate no. 9385
Peppina
Paul-Albert Besnard, 1919
some experience helpful
Recreating this etching will help students understand value creation through line work and develop skills in portrait drawing. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall shape and proportions of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the main planes of the face with simple lines.
- step 03
Start adding layers of hatching to build up darker values in the hair and shadows.
- step 04
Use cross-hatching to create depth and volume in the face and clothing.
- step 05
Pay attention to the direction of the lines to suggest the form of the subject.
- step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add subtle variations in line weight to create visual interest.
- step 08
Finish by adding a background of light hatching to separate the subject from the paper.
color palette
primary · sepia · ivory black
secondary · none
Vary the dilution of sepia ink to achieve different values. Use cross-hatching to blend values.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·contour drawing
- ·line weight variation
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the lines and creating a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to establish a clear value structure.
- →Ignoring the direction of the lines and creating a flat image.
- →Getting lost in details before establishing the overall form.
materials
surface · smooth drawing paper
required
- ·smooth paper
- ·sepia ink
- ·fine liner pens (various sizes)
- ·graphite pencil (2H)
- ·eraser
- ·ruler
optional
- ·magnifying glass
- ·tracing paper
Experiment with different types of ink and pens to find what works best for you. Use a light touch with the pencil to avoid damaging the paper.
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