self protrait at the age of 13
Durer was a German Renaissance Artist who mastered in printmaking and painting during the 1400's
GOALS - to demonstrate what you have learned in this unit
observation of line and line quality
value and shading
texture [you will need to study this section yourself and is outlined below]
REMEMBER A PORTRAIT IS JUST THE HEAD AND SHOULDERS.. NOT the entire animal
select an image from the folder provided here. or find your own on UNSPLASH
Drawing texture boils down to mark-making and edge quality (hardness and softness of a contour). If you make the same type of marks with your drawing tools you will get the same texture over and over. Each unique texture requires a unique mark. Compare the surface texture of the five spheres.
Spheres 1,2 and 4 appear smooth because there are few gaps of raw paper showing through the pencil strokes. These three spheres are different types of smooth textures due to edge quality. Spheres 1 and 2 feel hard because their edges are sharp. Sphere 4 feels soft because it’s edge is irregular and made with loose marks.
While both spheres 1 and 2 feel hard, one seems to have a matte surface and the other a shiny/reflective surface. It is the sharp shapes and highlights within the shape of sphere 2 that create that impression of a reflective surface.
Spheres 3 and 5 are obviously more roughly textured than 1,2 and 4. Though neither are smooth, 3 feels soft next to 5, again, because of the looser edge quality. Sphere 3 is made of lines while sphere 5 is rendered with little dark shapes.
Both of the rough spheres demonstrate how a mingling of light and dark create the impression of texture. Note that, except for the reflective ball, the spheres all demonstrate a clearly defined light source, creating an even change from light to dark. Value and form must always dominate texture.
SIZE: A4
MEDIA: any dry drawing media white or toned paper
watch the video showing how to draw into your animal portrait [note you are NOT doing the monoprint background]
carefully measure placement of eyes/nose etc using your original photo as a reference [or use a grid]. KEEP IT LIGHT UNTIL ITS RIGHT!
shade in light values and build up texture and dark values to give your animal depth and form. Your darkest values should match the darkest values of your photograph [use the value scale to match values]
no dark lines until it looks correct - if you need to erase your drawing too dark!