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home·artworks·Skaters on the ice at a farm
Skaters on the ice at a farm by Esaias van de Velde

plate no. 1386

Skaters on the ice at a farm

Esaias van de Velde, 1614

etchingBaroquegenre paintingfiguresice skatingtreeslandscapebuildingswinter
suitable for beginners

Recreating this etching helps students understand line drawing, cross-hatching, and creating depth through varying line thickness. It also encourages observation of details in figures and landscapes.

technical profile

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

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 7 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the horizon line and major elements.

  2. step 02

    Outline the main figures and buildings, paying attention to their proportions and placement.

  3. step 03

    Begin adding details to the figures, such as clothing folds and facial features.

  4. step 04

    Add the trees and other landscape elements, using varying line weights to create depth.

  5. step 05

    Use cross-hatching to create shadows and add volume to the figures and objects.

  6. step 06

    Refine the details and add any final touches, such as the birds in the sky.

  7. step 07

    Erase any unnecessary pencil lines to clean up the drawing.

color palette

primary · black · white

secondary ·

This is a monochrome image, so focus on varying the tones of black and white through line weight and density.

techniques

  • ·line drawing
  • ·cross-hatching
  • ·hatching
  • ·contour drawing

common pitfalls

  • →Making lines too uniform, resulting in a flat image.
  • →Not varying line weight to create depth and contrast.
  • →Overcomplicating the details, leading to a cluttered drawing.
  • →Ignoring the proportions of the figures and objects.

materials

surface · Smooth drawing paper

required

  • ·Pencil (HB)
  • ·Eraser
  • ·Drawing paper
  • ·Fine liner pens (various sizes)
  • ·Ruler

optional

  • ·Tracing paper
  • ·Light box

Use a variety of fine liner pens to achieve different line weights. Start with a light pencil sketch and gradually build up the details with ink.

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chiaroscuro →how to learn by studying the masters →
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