plate no. 3595
View of the Ruined Castle in Rosemont
Johan Jongkind, 1861
suitable for beginners
Recreating this sketch will help students develop skills in tonal value sketching and capturing the essence of a scene with minimal detail. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex forms and creating a sense of depth using value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 4 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the castle and landscape, focusing on proportions and placement.
- step 02
Establish the horizon line and the overall composition.
- step 03
Begin adding darker values to the shadows of the castle and foreground.
- step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to build up the tonal range.
- step 05
Add details to the castle ruins, such as broken edges and textures.
- step 06
Indicate the foliage with loose, gestural strokes.
- step 07
Soften some edges to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 08
Add final touches and refine the values.
color palette
primary · graphite · ivory black · raw umber
secondary · white (for paper)
Vary the pressure on the graphite to achieve different values. Dilute raw umber with water for lighter washes.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·tonal value sketching
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·gestural drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the sketch.
- →Creating overly harsh lines and neglecting the subtle tonal variations.
- →Failing to establish a clear focal point.
- →Not varying the pressure on the graphite enough to create depth.
materials
surface · sketchbook or drawing paper
required
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B)
- ·sketchbook or drawing paper
- ·eraser
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·soft cloth or paper towel
optional
- ·watercolor brush
- ·raw umber watercolor
Use a smooth or slightly textured paper for best results. Experiment with different graphite grades to achieve a full range of values.
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