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home·artworks·Sitting man with basket
Sitting man with basket by Abraham van Strij

plate no. 7630

Sitting man with basket

Abraham van Strij

oilNeoclassicismportraitfiguredogbasketbuildingstreet scenechildren
some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in cross-hatching, line weight variation, and creating form through shading. It also provides practice in capturing realistic proportions and textures.

technical profile

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

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the main figures and objects.

  2. step 02

    Refine the sketch, paying attention to proportions and anatomical accuracy.

  3. step 03

    Start adding darker lines to define the contours and create depth.

  4. step 04

    Use cross-hatching to build up shadows and create volume.

  5. step 05

    Vary the line weight to emphasize certain areas and create a sense of depth.

  6. step 06

    Add details to the faces, clothing, and other elements.

  7. step 07

    Pay attention to the texture of the different surfaces, such as the basket, clothing, and stone.

  8. step 08

    Make final adjustments to the shading and details.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary · gray

Varying the pressure and density of graphite or charcoal creates different shades of gray.

techniques

  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·line weight variation
  • ·rendering form with shading
  • ·creating texture with line
  • ·contour drawing

common pitfalls

  • →flattening the image by not varying line weight
  • →inconsistent shading
  • →getting lost in details too early
  • →disregarding proportions

materials

surface · smooth drawing paper

required

  • ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
  • ·drawing paper
  • ·eraser
  • ·kneaded eraser
  • ·pencil sharpener
  • ·ruler

optional

  • ·tortillon
  • ·blending stump
  • ·charcoal pencils

Experiment with different graphite grades to achieve a range of values. Use a kneaded eraser to lift highlights and soften edges.

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related guides

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