plate no. 6252
Portrait of Berthelier, actor of the Palais-Royal
Émile Bayard, 1880
some experience helpful
This drawing helps students practice rendering form with hatching and cross-hatching techniques. It also provides experience in capturing likeness and expression with limited tonal range.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape and proportions of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the main planes of the face with light, directional lines.
- step 03
Begin adding darker values in the shadows, using hatching and cross-hatching.
- step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones, layering lines to create depth.
- step 05
Pay close attention to the direction of the light and how it affects the form.
- step 06
Refine the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add details to the clothing, keeping the focus on the face.
- step 08
Adjust the overall values and contrast to create a balanced composition.
color palette
primary · sepia · white chalk
secondary · brown paper
Vary pressure and layering to achieve different shades of sepia. Use white chalk sparingly for highlights.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·tonal shading
- ·line weight variation
- ·blending with finger or tortillon
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the lines.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Using too much pressure and creating harsh lines.
materials
surface · toned paper (brown or tan)
required
- ·sepia pencil or crayon
- ·white chalk or pastel
- ·toned paper (brown or tan)
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·drawing board
optional
- ·tortillon or blending stump
- ·fixative spray
- ·ruler
Choose a paper with a slightly textured surface to allow for better blending and layering of tones.
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