Prompt
Create a chiaroscuro self-portrait. Chiaroscuro is a lighting effect which uses bold shadows and highlights that allows subjects to emerge from a dark background.
Chiaroscuro is not just a visual effect in a portrait, you can create a very dramatic mood that has a theatrical look.
By emphasizing the lighting, the form in the portrait can become more palpable and volumetric.
Examples
Cynthia, Triplegem, Johanna, Sarah McGill, Lisa H, Crissie
Setting up the mirror and light
Begin by setting up a mirror and light to create dramatic lighting on your face. Watch this segment on how to set up your mirror and lighting in a practical manner.
Make sure your set up is comfortable so you don’t have to sit or draw in an uncomfortable position, it is possible to do! Don’t be surprised if the set up takes a while.
Thumbnail sketches
Draw a minimum six thumbnail sketches to figure out your composition. Aim for a variety of different layouts, avoid the default portrait composition of sticking the face in the center.
Tweak and re-crop the thumbnails until you’re satisfied. Choose one thumbnail sketch to use for the final drawing.
Examples
Sarah McGill, Cynthia
Final drawing
Create the drawing in any black and white medium. Emphasize the dramatic chiaroscuro lighting by identifying the difference between cast shadows, form shadows, and reflected light.
As challenging as this is to do, try not to worry about likeness in the portrait.
This assignment is an exercise in lighting and you can think of this as a drawing loosely based on yourself.
Recommended media
Charcoal Supplies: compressed charcoal, vine charcoal, charcoal pencil, white plastic eraser, kneaded eraser, eraser stick
Other drawing media
Caran d’Ache Neocolor I Crayon, graphite powder + graphite sticks.
Paper
Charcoal paper has a tooth and texture that allows the paper to “grip” the dust of the charcoal better, but any drawing paper will do.
“I found it challenging to have a consistent pace in drawing. But the self-paced nature of the lessons and the support from the discord made doing the track very enjoyable.
Overall, the track helped to gain back my confidence, encouraged me to try new things, and taught me to move past my doubts when creating.”
Samuel Madriaga
Inspiration
Georges de la Tour, Caravaggio, Jusepe de Ribera, Artemisia Gentileschi, Peter Paul Rubens, Mikio Watanabe, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Giovanni Baglione, Hans Holbein the Younger, Geertgen tot Sint Jans, Gerrit van Honthorst, Joseph Wright of Derby, Adam Elsheimer
We want to share your progress!
- Did you do this lesson?
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Self-Portrait Drawing in Crayon
Art Prof Clara Lieu demonstrates how to draw a self-portrait using a mirror and a color layering technique using Caran d’Ache Neocolor I crayons. You’ll see how to set up your easel, drawing, clamp light, and mirror in order to have a smooth drawing experience.
Prof Lieu walks you through the thumbnail sketching process and then how to transition from the thumbnail sketch to the final crayon drawing.
Blocking out a foundation of colors is showed and then more complex layers of colors using the Caran d’Ache Neocolor I crayons is shown through to the final drawing.
Light & Shadow in Portraits
This video explain show lighting can be used in paintings to show form in a portrait. You’ll see how to break down the specifics of light and shadow: direct light, reflected light, shadow core, types of shadows, how light effects color.
Lighting can establish a mood or narrative for a painting, and more. Lecture by Art Prof Clara Lieu.
- Video Walkthrough & more
- Watch the 6 min. version
- Watch the 63 min. version
- Watch slideshow
