plate no. 9749

Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci

drawingHigh Renaissanceportraitportraitfiguremanhairbeardprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students understand how to build form with hatching and cross-hatching, and how to create subtle gradations of value with a limited palette. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and anatomical accuracy.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic outline of the head and facial features.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with light hatching.
step 03
Begin building up darker values with cross-hatching, focusing on areas like the hair, beard, and under the chin.
step 04
Pay close attention to the direction of the hatching lines to suggest the form of the hair and beard.
step 05
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add subtle variations in tone to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 07
Strengthen the darkest areas to create contrast and definition.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and details.

color palette

primary · red chalk · white chalk

secondary · light brown

Vary the pressure and density of the red chalk to achieve different values. Use white chalk sparingly to highlight areas of light.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·blending
·value gradation
·contour drawing

common pitfalls

→Applying too much pressure with the chalk, resulting in a flat, lifeless drawing.
→Failing to vary the direction of the hatching lines, which can make the drawing look messy.
→Neglecting to create a full range of values, resulting in a drawing that lacks depth.
→Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the initial sketch.

materials

surface · toned paper

required

·red chalk
·white chalk
·toned paper
·kneaded eraser
·drawing board
·fixative spray

optional

·tortillon
·chamois cloth

Choose a toned paper that is slightly textured to allow the chalk to adhere well. Experiment with different types of red chalk to find one that you like.

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