plate no. 2826
Untitled (Self-Portrait)
Arshile Gorky, 1929
some experience helpful
This painting helps students develop skills in portrait sketching, value shading, and capturing likeness using a limited color palette. It also encourages expressive mark-making and understanding of facial proportions.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic head shape and facial features, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with graphite pencil.
- step 03
Use pastel to add subtle color variations to the skin tones.
- step 04
Blend the pastel and graphite to create smooth transitions.
- step 05
Define the features with darker graphite lines, emphasizing contours.
- step 06
Add details to the hair and eyes.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · ivory black · white pastel
secondary · red ochre · gray pastel
Mix raw umber and ivory black to create various shades of brown and gray. Use white pastel to lighten the tones and red ochre to add warmth to the skin.
techniques
- ·contour drawing
- ·value shading
- ·blending
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the blending, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Inaccurate proportions leading to a distorted likeness.
- →Using too much pastel, making the drawing look chalky.
materials
surface · drawing paper
required
- ·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·Pastel sticks (raw umber, ivory black, white, red ochre, gray)
- ·Drawing paper
- ·Blending stump
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Soft cloth or paper towel
optional
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Chamois cloth
Use a smooth or slightly textured drawing paper. Experiment with different pastel brands to find your preferred consistency.
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