plate no. 5148
Portrait of Andrea Quaratesi
Michelangelo, 1532
some experience helpful
Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in tonal shading, capturing likeness, and understanding form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and textures using chalk.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the main shapes of the head, hat, and clothing.
- step 03
Begin to build up the darker values in the hair, shadows of the face, and folds of the clothing.
- step 04
Gradually add mid-tones to create a smooth transition between light and dark areas.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add subtle highlights to the face and clothing to create a sense of volume.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend tones to create a cohesive and realistic effect.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to complete the portrait.
color palette
primary · charcoal gray · ivory black · raw umber
secondary · light gray · sepia
Achieve subtle value changes by layering charcoal and blending with a blending stump or finger. Use white chalk sparingly for highlights.
techniques
- ·tonal shading
- ·blending
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·value layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the initial freshness.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of smooth transitions.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions and likeness.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle value changes that create form.
materials
surface · toned paper
required
- ·white or toned paper
- ·charcoal pencils (various grades)
- ·white chalk pencil
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·blending stumps
- ·fixative spray
optional
- ·tortillon
- ·chamois cloth
- ·ruler
Using toned paper will help establish mid-tones quickly. Experiment with different grades of charcoal to achieve a range of values.
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