plate no. 9545
Portrait of Stendhal
Henri Lehmann, 1841
some experience helpful
This drawing is a great exercise in capturing likeness and form using graphite. Students will develop skills in proportion, shading, and creating subtle tonal variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall proportions and pose of the figure.
- step 02
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 03
Block in the major areas of shadow and light on the face and clothing.
- step 04
Develop the details of the hair, clothing folds, and hand.
- step 05
Add subtle shading to create volume and depth.
- step 06
Use hatching and cross-hatching to build up darker values.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend tones where needed.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the portrait.
color palette
primary · graphite · white
secondary ·
Varying pressure and pencil grade will achieve the different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·tonal shading
- ·contour drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the initial sketch.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Creating muddy or undefined shadows.
- →Ignoring the subtle tonal variations.
- →Not paying attention to proportions.
materials
surface · Drawing paper
required
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·Eraser
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Drawing paper
- ·Blending stump
optional
- ·Tortillon
- ·Ruler
- ·Pencil sharpener
Use a smooth drawing paper for best results. Experiment with different grades of graphite pencils to achieve a range of values.
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