plate no. 9679
The Commentary
Paul Gavarni, 1843
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in value shading, creating soft edges, and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in depicting a figure in a landscape setting.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the figure, the tree, and the background.
- step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the composition, focusing on the tree and shadows.
- step 03
Gradually build up the mid-tones in the background and the figure's dress using hatching and cross-hatching.
- step 04
Pay close attention to the light source and how it affects the values on the figure's face and dress.
- step 05
Add details to the face, hair, and hands, using finer lines for definition.
- step 06
Render the book and the surrounding foliage with careful attention to texture.
- step 07
Soften edges where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition by adjusting values and adding final details.
color palette
primary · black · white · gray
secondary ·
Achieve various shades of gray by diluting black ink or paint with water or mixing black and white paint.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·value shading
- ·soft edges
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Creating harsh lines instead of soft transitions.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source.
- →Overworking the details and losing the overall sense of atmosphere.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the figure.
materials
surface · Smooth drawing paper
required
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·Eraser
- ·Drawing paper
- ·Blending stump or tortillon
- ·Ruler
- ·Kneaded eraser
optional
- ·Charcoal pencils
- ·White chalk
Use a variety of pencil grades to achieve a full range of values. Experiment with different blending techniques to create smooth transitions.
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