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home·artworks·Self portrait (from the Gate of Calais)
Self portrait (from the Gate of Calais) by William Hogarth

plate no. 4863

Self portrait (from the Gate of Calais)

William Hogarth

oilRococoself-portraitportraitfigurehatbookprofilecircle
some experience helpful

Recreating this image will help students understand hatching and cross-hatching techniques for creating value and form. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and detail in a portrait.

technical profile

palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the overall oval shape and the basic proportions of the figure within.

  2. step 02

    Refine the sketch, paying attention to the angle of the head and the placement of features.

  3. step 03

    Begin adding the darkest areas using hatching and cross-hatching, defining the hat and coat.

  4. step 04

    Gradually build up the mid-tones with lighter hatching, creating the form of the face and hair.

  5. step 05

    Add the details of the book and hand, using precise lines.

  6. step 06

    Work on the background hatching, ensuring consistent spacing and direction.

  7. step 07

    Define the inner and outer borders of the oval with clean, even lines.

  8. step 08

    Add the lettering at the top, carefully copying the style and placement.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary ·

This image uses only black and white, so no color mixing is required. Focus on achieving different values through varying the density of hatching.

techniques

  • ·hatching
  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·contour drawing
  • ·line weight variation
  • ·rendering form

common pitfalls

  • →Uneven hatching that creates unwanted textures.
  • →Inaccurate proportions that distort the likeness.
  • →Overworking areas and losing the freshness of the linework.
  • →Failing to create sufficient contrast between light and dark areas.

materials

surface · Smooth drawing paper

required

  • ·Pencil (HB or 2B)
  • ·Eraser
  • ·Fine-tipped drawing pen (0.3mm or similar)
  • ·Smooth drawing paper
  • ·Ruler
  • ·Compass

optional

  • ·Tracing paper
  • ·Light box

Use a good quality drawing paper that can withstand erasing and won't bleed with ink. Start with a light pencil sketch before committing to ink.

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related guides

oil painting for beginners →how to learn by studying the masters →
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