plate no. 2295
Self-portrait
Stanisław Wyspiański, 1890
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in capturing likeness, understanding proportions of the face, and using hatching and cross-hatching to create value and form. It also provides practice in achieving a loose and expressive drawing style.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the main proportions of the face: the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 03
Refine the shapes of the facial features, paying attention to the unique characteristics of the subject.
- step 04
Begin adding value with light hatching, focusing on areas of shadow.
- step 05
Build up darker values with cross-hatching, especially around the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add details to the hair, beard, and clothing, using varying line weights to create texture.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend values where needed to create a sense of form.
- step 08
Add final touches and highlights to enhance the overall effect.
color palette
primary · graphite gray · ivory
secondary · sepia · umber
The drawing primarily uses shades of gray achieved with graphite. Sepia and umber can be used sparingly to add warmth and depth to the shadows.
techniques
- ·Hatching
- ·Cross-hatching
- ·Contour drawing
- ·Value shading
- ·Expressive linework
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the loose, expressive quality.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
- →Creating overly harsh or uniform shading.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in line weight.
materials
surface · smooth drawing paper
required
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·Eraser
- ·Sketchbook or drawing paper
- ·Pencil sharpener
- ·Blending stump or tortillon
optional
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Ruler
- ·Sepia or umber colored pencils
Use a variety of graphite pencils to achieve a full range of values. Experiment with different blending techniques to create smooth transitions.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Dolly Sisters
Kees van Dongen
Nude with Loaves
Jean Helion
My Father
Carlos Botelho
Helen
Chronis Botsoglou
The portrait painter in the country
Albin Egger-Lienz
Marketta on Lázeňská street, Prague
Maria Bozoky
Winter at the Entrepotdok, in Amsterdam city
Paul Werner
Old Woman with Masks (Theatre of Masks)
James Ensor