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home·artworks·Self-portrait, Known as the Young Warrior
Self-portrait, Known as the Young Warrior by Ferdinand Bol

plate no. 7618

Self-portrait, Known as the Young Warrior

Ferdinand Bol, 1645

printBaroqueself-portraitportraitfigurehathairclothing
experienced study

Recreating this print will help students understand the use of hatching and cross-hatching to create value and form. It also teaches the importance of line weight and direction to convey texture and depth.

technical profile

palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
5
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and background.

  2. step 02

    Begin adding the darkest areas using dense, overlapping lines.

  3. step 03

    Gradually build up the mid-tones by layering lines with varying density and direction.

  4. step 04

    Use cross-hatching to create darker values and define forms.

  5. step 05

    Pay close attention to the direction of the lines to convey the form and texture of the hair, clothing, and hat.

  6. step 06

    Use lighter, more spaced-out lines to create highlights and lighter areas.

  7. step 07

    Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle variations in value.

  8. step 08

    Add final touches and adjustments to balance the overall composition.

color palette

primary · black

secondary · white

This is a monochrome image, so the focus is on achieving different values of gray through line density.

techniques

  • ·Hatching
  • ·Cross-hatching
  • ·Line weight variation
  • ·Value gradation
  • ·Contour drawing

common pitfalls

  • →Creating lines that are too uniform in weight and direction.
  • →Not varying the density of lines enough to create a full range of values.
  • →Losing the overall form and structure of the figure in the details.
  • →Making the lines too messy and undefined.

materials

surface · Smooth drawing paper

required

  • ·Pencil (HB and 2B)
  • ·Eraser
  • ·Smooth drawing paper
  • ·Ruler
  • ·Reference image

optional

  • ·Tortillon or blending stump
  • ·Magnifying glass

Use a smooth paper to allow for clean, crisp lines. A harder pencil (HB) is good for initial sketching, while a softer pencil (2B) is better for creating darker values.

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chiaroscuro →how to learn by studying the masters →
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