Portrait Drawing on White Paper

Portrait Drawing on White Paper

360 Online Weekend WS | This program is completed

All Levels

10/16/2021-10/17/2021

9:30 AM-1:30 PM PDT on Sun Sat

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$175.00

$157.50

$10.00

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Throughout the history of western art, portrait drawing has remained a vital artistic practice. Artists such as Michelangelo, Holbein, Van Dyck, and Ingres have explored this motif. These works speak to us because they are immediate, direct and honest.
This workshop will be on advanced methods and tools needed to draw a portrait on white paper using graphite in order to develop it to its highest resolution. An emphasis will be on understanding the structure of the head, as well as the artist’s analysis and interpretation of the model. Composition, perspective, proportions and the effects of light and dark will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on an in-depth investigation on the underlying structure of the head, skull and facial features. Students will learn to capture the likeness and unique personality of the sitter by carefully observing the subtleties of the human face.
Split screens will be used to allow you to work along with your teacher. By working alongside your teacher, you will gain a more concrete and visual understanding of the artists’ process.
Shared screens will be used to allow for an ongoing dialogue of critiques, lectures and demonstrations every day. All forms of art will be referenced to inspire and enhance the students’ experience. All levels welcome.

  • Graphite Pencils The core of drawing pencils is made with ground graphite and fillers. The type (clay/ wax) and percentage of the fillers determines the grade of hardness of a pencil. The “harder” grades (F to 9H) contain more clay filler, and the “softer” grades (HB to 9B) contain more wax filler. I’ve never found two brands of drawing pencils that use the same formula— one brand’s 2H pencil can be the same as another’s 4H. I’ve even found huge variations in consistency between different lots of the same brand, so it’s a good idea to test each new pencil. Drawing pencil grade ranges are as follows: Extremely Hard: 9H – 7H Very Hard: 6H – 5H Hard: 4H – 3H Medium Hard: 2H – H Medium: F – HB Medium Soft: B – 2B Soft: 3B – 4B Very Soft: 5B – 6B Extremely Soft: 7B – 9B. • Graphite Pencils (1 each), 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H, 7H, 8H, 9H | purchase • Mechanical Pencils 5MM and 9MM, HB, H, 2H | purchase
  • Erasers • Kneaded Eraser | purchase • Tuff Stuff Erasure Stick | purchase • Tombow MONO Zero Eraser | purchase • Faber-Castell Perfection Eraser #7056 | purchase • Faber-Castell Perfection Eraser #7058 | purchase [Note: Students will be exploring working with graphite on white paper. You can buy paper in pads and/or on individual sheets.]
  • Bristol Drawing Pads Over the years, I have used several different kinds of paper for my graphite drawings and found each one to be unique. The paper that I use most often is Bristol paper. Bristol papers come in a variety of weights and sizes. They come in two surfaces plate (smooth) and vellum (medium). Some Manufactures of Bristol papers are Strathmore, Bienfang, Rising, and Utrecht. You can cut the sheets for variety in shapes and sizes. Drawing Pads come in either glued, wirebound, or hardbound/softbond called Journals. Select one of the following: • Bristol Pad 14 x 17” | purchase • Bristol Pad 18 x24” | purchase continued >>
  • Suggested Paper • Aquabee Bristol Vellum • Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper • Arches Text Wove • Arches Platine • Rising Bristol 2 ply Vellum/Plate • Stonehenge • Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum/Plate • Utrecht 2ply Smooth
  • Boards • Sketch board or Foam Board (cut a little larger than paper size) | purchase
  • Miscellaneous • Binder Clips (small, medium, and large; 2 of each) | purchase • Banker Clips (small and large; 2 of each) | purchase • Artist Tape (white) | purchase • Blending Stumps (small and medium) | purchase • Olfa Snap-Off Blade Cutter (small) | purchase • Knitting Needle or Straight Skewer | purchase • View-finder | purchase (or make your own: Make two “L” shapes out of cardboard, about 7”-8” on the leg and 1½” wide. Hold together with binder clips)
  • Paper Terms Used for Weight and Surface Drawing Paper bond, plate: smooth bristol, vellum, sketch: medium charcoal, laid, Ingres: coarse pastel: rough
  • Stationary Paper writing: light weight text: medium weight cover: heavy weight Printmaking Paper plate: smooth surface vellum: medium surface kid: rough surface Watercolor Paper hot pressed: smooth surface cold pressed: medium surface rough: rough surface These are some paper that work well with graphite: • Arches Cover ¨ • Arches MBM Ingres (Michallet) * • Arches Text Laid */Arches Text Wove • Canson Mi Teintes * § • Coventry Rag ¨ • Crane’s Crest Laid */Crane’s Crest Wove • Durotone Butcher, Newsprint, Kraft • Fabriano Ingres * § • Fabriano Tiziano * § • Folio ¨ • Magnani Annigoni ¨ • Rives BFK ¨ • Rives Heavyweight • Stonehenge ¨ • Strathmore Charcoal * § • Strathmore Bristol Series 500 • Strathmore Toned Tan or Gray §
  • * coarse surface ¨ printmaking papers § available in several colors
  • You can find this paper at the following stores: • Blick/ Utrecht | 1 Bond Street and other locations | 212 533-2444 • The Art Students League Store 215 W57th St | 212 247-4510 • New York Central | 62 Third Avenue 212 473-7705 • Jerry’s Palette Shop | 111 4th Avenue 646 678-5474