plate no. 5309
Self-Portrait
Pavel Fedotov, 1840
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in proportion, shading, and capturing likeness using pencil. It also provides practice in creating texture and depth through varied pencil strokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape of the head and shoulders, focusing on proportions.
- step 02
Establish the main lines of the face: eyes, nose, mouth, and hairline.
- step 03
Block in the basic shapes of the hand and arm.
- step 04
Begin shading the darker areas, paying attention to the direction of light.
- step 05
Add mid-tones to create depth and volume.
- step 06
Refine the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Add texture to the hair and clothing using short, varied pencil strokes.
- step 08
Finalize the drawing by adding highlights and adjusting the overall value range.
color palette
primary · graphite
secondary · none
Vary pressure to achieve different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·value shading
- ·contour drawing
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions leading to a distorted likeness.
- →Overworking the drawing, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Inconsistent shading, creating a lack of depth.
- →Ignoring the direction of light, leading to unrealistic shadows.
materials
surface · Drawing paper
required
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·Eraser
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Drawing paper
- ·Pencil sharpener
- ·Blending stump
optional
- ·Ruler
- ·Fixative spray
Use a smooth or slightly textured paper for best results. Experiment with different grades of graphite pencils to achieve a full range of values.
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