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home·artworks·Portrait of Eduard Schaller from Vienna
Portrait of Eduard Schaller from Vienna by Leopold Pollak

plate no. 9112

Portrait of Eduard Schaller from Vienna

Leopold Pollak, 1832

drawing, paperRomanticismportraitportraitmanhairfaceclothing
some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in accurate proportion, shading techniques, and rendering textures with graphite. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the overall proportions and pose of the subject.

  2. step 02

    Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.

  3. step 03

    Begin adding shading to define the form of the face and neck.

  4. step 04

    Render the hair, using small, curved strokes to create the texture of the curls.

  5. step 05

    Add details to the clothing, using hatching and cross-hatching to create shadows.

  6. step 06

    Refine the background with subtle shading to create depth.

  7. step 07

    Add the signature and any other text present in the original.

  8. step 08

    Make final adjustments to the values and details to complete the drawing.

color palette

primary · graphite · white (paper)

secondary ·

Varying pressure on the graphite pencil creates different shades of gray.

techniques

  • ·hatching
  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·blending
  • ·rendering textures
  • ·proportion

common pitfalls

  • →Incorrect proportions can distort the likeness.
  • →Overworking the shading can make the drawing look muddy.
  • →Failing to capture the subtle nuances of the facial expression.
  • →Not varying the pressure enough to create a full range of values.

materials

surface · Smooth drawing paper

required

  • ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
  • ·Eraser
  • ·Kneaded eraser
  • ·Drawing paper
  • ·Pencil sharpener
  • ·Blending stump or tortillon

optional

  • ·Ruler
  • ·Compass
  • ·Fixative spray

Use a variety of graphite pencils to achieve a full range of values. A blending stump can help to create smooth transitions between tones.

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