plate no. 5270
Portrait of Amanda Lindner
Christian Wilhelm Allers, 1890
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in rendering textures like hair and metal, as well as understanding light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and detail in portraiture.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Refine the sketch, paying close attention to the facial features and the flow of the hair.
- step 03
Start adding darker values to define the shadows and create depth, beginning with the darkest areas.
- step 04
Develop the textures of the hair and armor using hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling techniques.
- step 05
Add details to the flowers and leaves, paying attention to their form and structure.
- step 06
Continue to build up the values, gradually adding more layers of shading to create a sense of volume.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create contrast and bring the drawing to life.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to complete the drawing.
color palette
primary · graphite · charcoal
secondary · white (paper)
Varying pressure and layering techniques create different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·stippling
- ·rendering
- ·value shading
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall form.
- →Not creating enough contrast between light and shadow.
- →Making the hair look flat and lifeless.
materials
surface · Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)
required
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B)
- ·Eraser
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)
- ·Blending stump or tortillon
- ·Pencil sharpener
optional
- ·Charcoal pencils
- ·Ruler
- ·Compass
Use a variety of pencils to achieve different values and textures. Experiment with different blending techniques to create smooth transitions.
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