plate no. 8673
Stanislaw Wyspianski Self Portrait
Stanisław Wyspiański, 1907
some experience helpful
This drawing helps students practice expressive mark-making and capturing likeness through gesture. It also emphasizes the importance of value and contrast in creating form.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Start with a light sketch of the overall head shape and proportions.
- step 02
Establish the basic facial features: eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
- step 03
Begin adding darker values to define the shadows and contours of the face.
- step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to build up the values and create texture.
- step 05
Focus on capturing the expressive quality of the lines and the overall mood of the portrait.
- step 06
Pay attention to the direction of the lines to suggest form and volume.
- step 07
Refine the details and add any final touches.
- step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance and composition.
color palette
primary · graphite · white
secondary ·
Vary the pressure on the graphite to achieve different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·contour drawing
- ·gestural drawing
- ·value shading
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the lines.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions and creating a distorted likeness.
- →Being too timid with the values and not creating enough contrast.
- →Focusing too much on details and neglecting the overall composition.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·drawing paper
- ·eraser
- ·sharpener
optional
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·tortillon
- ·ruler
Use a smooth paper for easier blending and shading.
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