plate no. 1624

Portrait of a Young Man

chalkBaroqueportraitportraitfigurehairfaceclothing

some experience helpful

This drawing is a great exercise in understanding value and form using hatching and cross-hatching techniques. Recreating it will help students develop control over their mark-making and build confidence in portraiture.

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, hair, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the overall proportions and placement of facial features.
step 03
Begin adding initial layers of hatching to define the darker areas of the hair and clothing.
step 04
Build up the values gradually, using cross-hatching to create deeper shadows.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle variations in value.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using short, curved strokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Soften edges and blend values where necessary to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final highlights to the face and hair to create contrast.

color palette

primary · charcoal gray · white

secondary · light gray

Vary the pressure and density of charcoal application to achieve different shades of gray.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·blending
·value shading
·portrait drawing

common pitfalls

→Applying too much pressure too early, making it difficult to correct mistakes.
→Failing to establish a full range of values, resulting in a flat or muddy drawing.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value within the facial features.
→Overworking the drawing, resulting in a loss of spontaneity.