plate no. 5159
Portrait of Ernst Schweninger
Christian Wilhelm Allers, 1892
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in rendering textures with graphite and understanding tonal values to create form. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and gesture.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the main shapes of the head, beard, and clothing.
- step 03
Begin adding darker values to define the shadows and contours.
- step 04
Develop the texture of the hair and beard using short, directional strokes.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 07
Create the background with light hatching to suggest depth.
- step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · graphite · white (paper)
secondary ·
Vary the pressure on the graphite to achieve different shades of gray. Use blending techniques to create smooth transitions between values.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·rendering
- ·contour drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the sketch.
- →Failing to establish a full range of values, resulting in a flat image.
- →Getting lost in details before establishing the overall form.
- →Not paying attention to proportions and likeness.
materials
surface · Smooth drawing paper
required
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·Eraser
- ·Drawing paper
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Pencil sharpener
- ·Blending stump
optional
- ·Ruler
- ·Fixative spray
Use a variety of graphite pencils to achieve a full range of values. Experiment with different blending techniques to create smooth transitions.
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