plate no. 3455
Portrait of poet K.P. Cavafy
some experience helpful
This drawing is great for learning about value shading and capturing likeness with charcoal. Students will practice building form with layers of tone and creating highlights.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
- step 02
Establish the overall composition and placement on the paper.
- step 03
Begin adding mid-tone values with charcoal, focusing on the shadow areas.
- step 04
Gradually build up darker values in the deepest shadows, using cross-hatching or blending.
- step 05
Use a kneaded eraser to lift out highlights and refine the shapes.
- step 06
Pay attention to the direction of the light and how it affects the form.
- step 07
Add details such as the glasses, clothing folds, and hair texture.
- step 08
Refine the overall drawing, adjusting values and details as needed.
color palette
primary · charcoal gray · white · tan
secondary ·
The key is layering charcoal to achieve different values. Use white chalk or charcoal sparingly for highlights.
techniques
- ·charcoal blending
- ·value shading
- ·cross-hatching
- ·erasing highlights
- ·portrait proportions
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness.
- →Not establishing a full range of values.
- →Getting the proportions wrong early on.
- →Smudging the charcoal excessively.
materials
surface · toned drawing paper
required
- ·charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
- ·white chalk or charcoal pencil
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·drawing paper (toned tan or gray)
- ·blending stumps or tortillons
- ·fixative spray
optional
- ·ruler
- ·grid for transferring image
- ·sandpaper block for sharpening charcoal
Using toned paper helps establish the mid-tone value and makes it easier to create highlights and shadows.
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