plate no. 5593
Pregnant woman with folded hands
Kathe Kollwitz, 1899
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand the use of hatching and cross-hatching to create value and form, as well as how to simplify a complex subject into basic shapes and lines. It also emphasizes the importance of light and shadow in creating depth and mood.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Establish the main light source and map out the areas of light and shadow.
- step 03
Begin adding hatching and cross-hatching to the background, varying the density of lines to create depth.
- step 04
Work on the figure, using similar techniques to define the form and create texture in the clothing.
- step 05
Pay close attention to the hands, using delicate lines to capture their shape and detail.
- step 06
Deepen the shadows to create contrast and emphasize the light areas.
- step 07
Refine the details and add any final touches to complete the piece.
color palette
primary · black · white
secondary ·
This image is monochromatic, so focus on varying the tones of black and white through line density and layering.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·value shading
- ·line variation
common pitfalls
- →Creating lines that are too uniform and lack variation.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source and consistent shadows.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of form.
- →Not varying the pressure of the drawing tool to create different line weights.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·drawing paper
- ·eraser
- ·sharpener
- ·ruler
- ·kneaded eraser
optional
- ·tortillon
- ·sandpaper block
Use a smooth drawing paper to allow for easy blending and layering of graphite. Experiment with different pencil grades to achieve a range of values.
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