plate no. 2648

Portrait of Mikoláš Aleš

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanhairclothingface

some experience helpful

This drawing is great for practicing line weight variation and understanding how to build form with hatching and cross-hatching. Recreating this will improve observational skills and control of graphite or charcoal.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall proportions and pose.
step 02
Establish the main shapes of the head, hair, and clothing.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the angles and proportions.
step 04
Start adding darker values in the shadows using hatching and cross-hatching.
step 05
Build up the mid-tones gradually, varying the pressure and spacing of your lines.
step 06
Focus on rendering the hair, using curved lines to suggest the direction and flow.
step 07
Add details to the clothing and background, keeping them less defined than the face.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a sense of depth and realism.