plate no. 7290
Portrait of Jean-Victor Schnetz
some experience helpful
Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in rendering form with value and creating texture with hatching and cross-hatching techniques. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and proportion.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition and proportions.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the portrait: hair, clothing, and shadows.
- step 03
Gradually build up mid-tones using hatching and cross-hatching.
- step 04
Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to convey form.
- step 05
Use a kneaded eraser to lift highlights and refine shapes.
- step 06
Add details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Refine the background with subtle shading.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to values and details.
color palette
primary · black · white
secondary · gray
Varying the pressure and density of pencil strokes creates different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·value shading
- ·rendering form
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the lines.
- →Failing to establish a full range of values.
- →Ignoring the direction of the lines and creating a flat image.
- →Getting lost in details before establishing the overall form.
materials
surface · smooth drawing paper
required
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·Drawing paper
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Pencil sharpener
- ·Blending stump
- ·Ruler
optional
- ·Tortillon
- ·Sandpaper block
Use a variety of graphite pencils to achieve a full range of values. A smooth paper will allow for easier blending.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
