plate no. 3817

Zoe

Youssef Idrissi, 2014

pastel, charcoal, pigment, pencilRealismportraitportraitwomanhairfaceshoulderclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in rendering form with charcoal and pastel, paying close attention to light and shadow. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hair.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with broad strokes of charcoal.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the angles and curves of the nose, eyes, and mouth.
step 04
Add details to the hair, using varying pressure to create highlights and shadows.
step 05
Blend the charcoal and pastel to create smooth transitions between values.
step 06
Use a kneaded eraser to lift out highlights and correct mistakes.
step 07
Add final details and refine the edges of the portrait.
step 08
Seal the drawing with a fixative spray.

color palette

primary · charcoal gray · white pastel

secondary · dark gray · light gray

Varying pressure and blending different shades of charcoal and pastel will create the range of values needed for this drawing.

techniques

·charcoal blending
·value shading
·highlighting
·portrait sketching
·cross-hatching

common pitfalls

→Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the initial sketch.
→Not paying close enough attention to proportions and facial features.
→Creating harsh lines instead of smooth transitions between values.
→Using too much pressure and making the drawing look muddy.

materials

surface · Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)

required

·Charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
·White pastel pencil
·Kneaded eraser
·Blending stumps
·Drawing paper (smooth or slightly textured)
·Fixative spray
·Pencil sharpener

optional

·Vine charcoal
·Chamois cloth
·Ruler

Use a paper with enough tooth to grab the charcoal and pastel, but not so rough that it makes blending difficult. A smooth paper will allow for more detailed rendering.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein