plate no. 5890

The Negro Worker

James Lesesne Wells, 1938

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigurebuildingsfactoryhatworker

some experience helpful

Recreating this drawing will help students develop skills in tonal shading, cross-hatching, and creating depth through value contrast. It also provides practice in rendering complex forms with simplified shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the background elements.
step 02
Define the major shapes of the face, hat, and buildings with simple geometric forms.
step 03
Begin shading the darkest areas of the face and clothing, using cross-hatching to build up tone.
step 04
Gradually add mid-tones to the face and background, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 05
Refine the details of the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add texture to the hat and clothing using short, broken lines.
step 07
Develop the background by adding details to the buildings and sky.
step 08
Review the drawing and make any necessary adjustments to the values and details.

color palette

primary · graphite · white

secondary · none

Varying pressure and layering of graphite creates different shades of gray.

techniques

·cross-hatching
·tonal shading
·hatching
·rendering form
·value control

common pitfalls

→Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the lines.
→Failing to establish a clear light source.
→Not varying the pressure of the pencil to create different values.
→Ignoring the underlying structure of the forms.

materials

surface · Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)

required

·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
·Eraser
·Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)
·Pencil sharpener
·Blending stump or tortillon
·Ruler

optional

·Kneaded eraser
·Sandpaper block
·Fixative spray

Experiment with different grades of graphite pencils to achieve a full range of values. Use a light touch when applying the graphite to avoid making the drawing too dark too quickly.

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