plate no. 5084
Self-Portrait
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variations and form, as well as understanding how to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the portrait, such as the hair and shadows under the chin.
- step 03
Begin hatching with a fine-tipped pen or pencil, following the contours of the face to create form.
- step 04
Use cross-hatching to build up darker values in areas of shadow.
- step 05
Pay attention to the direction of the hatching lines to convey the form and texture of the hair and clothing.
- step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using fine lines and subtle shading.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition by adjusting the values and adding highlights.
- step 08
Add final details like the cigarette and smoke.
color palette
primary · black · white
secondary · gray
Varying the density and layering of black lines on a white surface creates shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·contour drawing
- ·value shading
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the sense of spontaneity.
- →Making the hatching lines too uniform and lacking variation.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source and consistent shading.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the face.
materials
surface · Smooth drawing paper
required
- ·White paper
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·Fine-tipped pen (optional)
- ·Eraser
- ·Pencil sharpener
- ·Ruler
optional
- ·Blending stump
- ·Kneaded eraser
Use a variety of pencil grades to achieve different values. A fine-tipped pen can be used for more precise hatching.
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