plate no. 7097
Robert Besnard and His Donkey
Paul-Albert Besnard, 1888
some experience helpful
Recreating this etching will help students understand how to build form and depth using hatching and cross-hatching techniques. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness of a subject using a limited tonal range.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the child and donkey, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the composition with dense hatching.
- step 03
Add layers of hatching to build up mid-tones, varying the direction of lines.
- step 04
Use cross-hatching to create deeper shadows and define forms.
- step 05
Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to convey the form of the subjects.
- step 06
Soften edges by feathering the hatching lines.
- step 07
Refine details in the faces of the child and donkey.
- step 08
Add final touches to the background foliage.
color palette
primary · sepia · ivory black
secondary · raw umber
Vary the dilution of sepia to create different tonal values. Mix small amounts of ivory black into sepia to deepen shadows.
techniques
- ·Hatching
- ·Cross-hatching
- ·Dry brush
- ·Value gradation
- ·Line weight variation
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the hatching, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to vary the direction of hatching lines, leading to a flat image.
- →Ignoring the importance of negative space in defining forms.
- →Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · Smooth drawing paper
required
- ·Graphite pencils (2H, HB, 2B)
- ·Eraser
- ·Drawing paper (smooth surface)
- ·Fine liner pens (various sizes)
- ·Ruler
- ·Blending stump
optional
- ·Magnifying glass
- ·Tracing paper
- ·Reference photo print
Use a variety of fine liner pens to achieve different line weights. Experiment with different hatching techniques to find what works best for you.
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