plate no. 1574
Secrets
Youssef Idrissi, 2018
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition and proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the hair and clothing with charcoal.
- step 03
Begin to build up mid-tones on the skin, blending gently.
- step 04
Use a blending stump or tortillon to smooth out transitions between values.
- step 05
Add highlights to the hair and skin with a kneaded eraser.
- step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Soften the edges of the figure to create a sense of depth.
- step 08
Adjust values as needed to create a cohesive and balanced drawing.
color palette
primary · graphite · charcoal
secondary · white pastel · grey
Vary pressure and blending to achieve different shades of gray. Use white pastel sparingly for highlights.
techniques
- ·tonal shading
- ·blending
- ·highlighting with eraser
- ·rendering form
- ·charcoal drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the initial freshness.
- →Creating harsh lines instead of smooth transitions.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the figure.
- →Not paying enough attention to the subtle variations in value.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·drawing paper
- ·charcoal pencils (various grades)
- ·graphite pencils (various grades)
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·blending stump
- ·tortillon
- ·fixative spray
optional
- ·white charcoal pencil
- ·ruler
Use a paper with a slight tooth to better hold the charcoal and graphite.
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