plate no. 8185

Selbstbildnis

oilSymbolismself-portraitportraitfigurehairbeardfaceman

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in rendering form with hatching and cross-hatching, and understanding value relationships to create depth and volume. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression in portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall proportions and placement of the head, hair, and beard.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with light pencil strokes.
step 03
Begin building up darker values in the hair and beard using hatching and cross-hatching techniques.
step 04
Develop the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Refine the values and details in the face, using a combination of hatching, cross-hatching, and blending.
step 06
Add texture to the hair and beard by varying the direction and pressure of your pencil strokes.
step 07
Create the background with light hatching, keeping it subtle and secondary to the figure.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · graphite · ivory black

secondary · ochre · raw umber

The drawing relies on layering graphite to achieve different values. The background is a subtle wash of ochre and raw umber.

techniques

·Hatching
·Cross-hatching
·Value gradation
·Contour drawing
·Blending

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Creating a flat or lifeless rendering by not varying pencil pressure.
→Not paying attention to proportions and likeness.

materials

surface · Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)

required

·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B)
·Kneaded eraser
·Blending stump
·Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)
·Pencil sharpener
·Ruler

optional

·Tortillon
·Chamois cloth
·Colored pencils (ochre, raw umber)

Use a variety of graphite pencils to achieve a full range of values. Experiment with different blending techniques to create smooth transitions and subtle details.

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