plate no. 0802
Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi
suitable for beginners
This drawing is great for practicing contour drawing and capturing likeness with minimal shading. Students can learn to suggest form and depth using line weight and density.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
2
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 3 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape and proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Focus on the head and facial features, paying close attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 03
Refine the contours of the face and head, adding details like the ears and hair.
- step 04
Sketch the outline of the shawl, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
- step 05
Add shading to the face and shawl to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Use darker lines to emphasize the contours and add details.
- step 07
Add the signature and date (if desired).
- step 08
Erase any unnecessary lines and refine the drawing.
color palette
primary · graphite · white
secondary ·
Vary the pressure on the pencil to achieve different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·contour drawing
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·line weight variation
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong.
- →Overworking the shading.
- →Making the lines too heavy.
- →Not paying attention to the details of the facial features.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·drawing paper
- ·eraser
- ·sharpener
optional
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·tortillon
- ·ruler
Use a smooth drawing paper for best results. Experiment with different grades of graphite pencils to achieve different effects.
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