plate no. 2363
Severed head
Odilon Redon, 1878
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in tonal shading and creating atmospheric depth using a limited palette. It also provides practice in rendering subtle facial features and creating a sense of mystery.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the heads and the table, paying attention to proportions and placement.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and the shadows on the heads using charcoal.
- step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones and highlights on the heads, blending the charcoal to create smooth transitions.
- step 04
Focus on the details of the faces, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using precise shading to define their forms.
- step 05
Add the wings to the angels, paying attention to their delicate structure and soft edges.
- step 06
Refine the details of the table, adding subtle variations in tone to create a sense of depth.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend areas to create an atmospheric effect.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the overall composition.
color palette
primary · charcoal black · raw umber
secondary · ivory white
Mix raw umber and charcoal black to achieve various shades of brown and gray. Use ivory white sparingly to create subtle highlights.
techniques
- ·tonal shading
- ·blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·charcoal rendering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall atmospheric effect.
- →Creating harsh lines and edges instead of smooth transitions.
- →Failing to establish a strong value contrast between the light and dark areas.
- →Inaccurate proportions of the facial features.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·Charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Blending stumps or tortillions
- ·Drawing paper (toned or white)
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Ruler
optional
- ·White chalk pencil
- ·Sandpaper block for sharpening charcoal
Use a smooth or slightly textured paper for best results. Toned paper can help to establish the mid-tones more quickly.
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