plate no. 4394

Çun Lajçi

pencil, ink, paperContemporary Realismportraitportraitfiguremanfaceheadeyes

some experience helpful

This painting helps students develop skills in portrait drawing, focusing on capturing likeness and using cross-hatching for shading and texture. It also encourages experimentation with limited color palettes and expressive linework.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic head shape and facial features, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background tone with a light wash of diluted brown ink or watercolor.
step 03
Begin adding darker values with pencil, focusing on areas of shadow like under the brow, around the nose, and under the chin.
step 04
Use cross-hatching to build up tone and create texture in the skin and beard.
step 05
Add touches of red or pink to the cheeks, nose, and ears for warmth.
step 06
Define the eyes and mouth with darker pencil lines, paying attention to detail.
step 07
Refine the overall drawing, adjusting values and adding details as needed.
step 08
Add the artist's signature and date in the bottom right corner.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · graphite · ivory black

secondary · alizarin crimson

Dilute burnt sienna with water to create washes. Mix graphite with small amounts of black for darker shades. Use alizarin crimson sparingly for subtle hints of color on the face.

techniques