plate no. 7291
Portrait of Calvin, actor of the Palais-Royal
Émile Bayard, 1880
some experience helpful
This drawing helps students practice portrait sketching, focusing on capturing likeness and using line weight to define form. It also encourages observation of subtle value changes to create depth.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the main shapes of the head, torso, and clothing.
- step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the angles and distances between them.
- step 04
Add details to the hair, clothing, and bow tie.
- step 05
Use varying line weights to define the contours and create depth.
- step 06
Add shading to create form and volume, focusing on areas of light and shadow.
- step 07
Erase any unnecessary guidelines and refine the overall drawing.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the portrait.
color palette
primary · graphite · charcoal
secondary · white · gray
Varying pressure and layering of graphite or charcoal will create different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·contour drawing
- ·value shading
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong, leading to an inaccurate likeness.
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the sketch.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle value changes, resulting in a flat image.
- →Using lines that are too uniform in weight, making the drawing look lifeless.
materials
surface · sketch paper
required
- ·sketch paper
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·pencil sharpener
- ·ruler
- ·drawing board
optional
- ·tortillon
- ·chamois cloth
- ·fixative spray
Use a smooth sketch paper for easier blending. A variety of pencil grades will help achieve a full range of values.
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