plate no. 8219
The dresser in Gruchy
Jean-Francois Millet, 1854
some experience helpful
Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in rendering form with charcoal and understanding tonal values to create depth. It also provides practice in observing and accurately depicting everyday objects.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the dresser and shelves.
- step 02
Establish the overall composition and proportions.
- step 03
Begin adding darker values to define the shadows and forms of the objects.
- step 04
Gradually build up the tones, layering charcoal to create depth and dimension.
- step 05
Pay attention to the light source and how it affects the shadows.
- step 06
Refine the details of the objects, such as the rims of the pots and the texture of the shelves.
- step 07
Soften edges and blend areas to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the drawing.
color palette
primary · charcoal gray · white (paper)
secondary · light gray · dark gray
Vary the pressure and layering of charcoal to achieve different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·tonal layering
- ·erasing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the initial sketch.
- →Failing to establish a clear light source and consistent shadows.
- →Getting lost in details before establishing the overall values.
- →Using too much pressure too early, making it difficult to erase and adjust.
materials
surface · Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)
required
- ·Charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Blending stump or tortillon
- ·Drawing paper (toned or white)
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Pencil sharpener
optional
- ·Chamois cloth
- ·Sandpaper block
- ·Ruler
Use a variety of charcoal pencils to achieve different tonal values. Fixative spray will prevent smudging.
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