plate no. 2787
Portrait of Leo Pushkin
Alexander Orlowski, 1822
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in contour drawing, cross-hatching, and capturing likeness with minimal detail. It also encourages observation of form and value using line weight.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the main contours of the face and hair.
- step 03
Add details to the facial features, focusing on proportions.
- step 04
Begin defining the hair with loose, flowing lines.
- step 05
Use cross-hatching to create shadows and volume in the hair and clothing.
- step 06
Vary line weight to emphasize certain areas and create depth.
- step 07
Add background hatching to suggest form.
- step 08
Refine the drawing, adjusting lines and values as needed.
color palette
primary · yellow · brown
secondary ·
The drawing uses a limited palette, focusing on variations of yellow and brown to create value and form.
techniques
- ·contour drawing
- ·cross-hatching
- ·line weight variation
- ·sketching
- ·hatching
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing with too many details.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Using inconsistent line weights.
- →Not varying the direction of hatching
materials
surface · sketchbook
required
- ·sketchbook
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B)
- ·eraser
- ·yellow paper
optional
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·tortillon for blending
Using toned paper similar to the original will help achieve the desired effect. Experiment with different pencil grades to achieve a range of values.
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