plate no. 6359

Sigmund Freud

paper, pencilContemporary Realismportraitportraitfiguremancigarfacehand

some experience helpful

This drawing is a great exercise in capturing likeness and using hatching and cross-hatching to create form and value. Students will develop their observational skills and learn to simplify complex shapes into basic forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the head, shoulders, hand, and cigar.
step 02
Refine the sketch, paying close attention to the angles and curves of the face and the structure of the hand.
step 03
Start adding value with light, even strokes, building up the darker areas gradually.
step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and form, varying the pressure and spacing of the lines to achieve different values.
step 05
Focus on capturing the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the subtle variations in value.
step 06
Add details to the hand and cigar, using similar techniques to create form and texture.
step 07
Refine the overall drawing, adjusting values and adding details as needed.
step 08
Add the signature at the bottom.

color palette

primary · graphite pencil

secondary · red ink

Varying pressure and layering of graphite creates different shades of gray.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·contour drawing
·value shading
·observational drawing

common pitfalls

→Failing to establish accurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the lines.
→Not varying the pressure and spacing of the lines to create different values.
→Getting lost in details before establishing the overall form.

materials

surface · sketch paper

required

·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
·sketch paper
·eraser
·pencil sharpener
·red ink pen

optional

·kneaded eraser
·tortillon or blending stump
·ruler

Use a variety of pencils to achieve a full range of values. Start with a lighter pencil (HB) for the initial sketch and gradually move to darker pencils (2B, 4B) for adding value.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein