plate no. 2188
The good student
suitable for beginners
Recreating this drawing will help students practice proportion, shading, and creating depth with graphite. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and pose of a figure.
technical profile
palette complexity
1
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the bench.
- step 02
Refine the figure's proportions, paying attention to the head, torso, and limbs.
- step 03
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 04
Sketch the clothing, capturing the folds and wrinkles.
- step 05
Draw the book, paying attention to its shape and position in the figure's hands.
- step 06
Add shading to create depth and volume, using darker tones in areas of shadow.
- step 07
Refine the details and add highlights to create contrast.
- step 08
Add the background with light shading.
color palette
primary · graphite · white (paper)
secondary ·
Vary the pressure on the graphite to achieve different shades of gray.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·blending
- ·line weight variation
- ·shading
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the figure.
- →Overworking the shading, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Ignoring the direction of light, leading to inconsistent shadows.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the figure's face.
materials
surface · Drawing paper
required
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·Eraser
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Drawing paper
- ·Pencil sharpener
- ·Blending stump
optional
- ·Ruler
- ·Compass
Use a smooth drawing paper for best results.
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