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OVERVIEW
Things you will learn: In this lesson you will learn to lay in a drawing using photo reference. I have
provided you with a very manageable photo. It is well lit with a single, powerful light source making
the forms easier to navigate. We are using bits and pieces of everything we have learned up to this
point. The goal is to begin understanding the fundamental procedure for laying in any drawing. First,
you will do the linear lay-in using primarily the abstraction while keeping the skull and planes infor-
mation as knowledge for cross-referencing. You will then start mapping the shadow pattern. After
completing this, move on to the value phase. Here you will insert a value 5 into your map.
MATERIALS
- TIP -
reference. I suggest a single light
SETTING UP
edges. If edges are still hard for
lessons. construct this image holder)
Part 1: Watch the video demonstration as I lay in the he ad. Remember to look at all of the
1) Make sure to have your charcoal pencil well sharpened. Sit comfortably, and set your
intention. Think back over the Asaro, skull, and abstraction.
2) As you progress, make sure your lay-in lines stay lightly committed to. Try not to grind
the tone onto the surface. Over time you will find the sweet spot.
3) As you work into the mapping and tone, commit enough to be able to easily see your
decisions but again, stay a bit on the conservative side.
Note: We will only take this drawing up to the value 5 level. At this point in the drawing we can
easily change or alter any decisions that got away from u s, and there will most likely be a few. I
would encourage you to start incorporating this procedure using photos you find in magaz ines or
ones you stage and photograph yourself. Head reference is usually quite easy to come by.
- TIP -
Adding tone is a crucial stage. Be
careful not to go too dark. Keep the
tone around value 5 on a scale from
0 – 10. At this point, the drawing
should start to appear very three-
dimensional. If not, you may have
made some errors in your edges.
You can always go back and review
the video. Do many lay-ins like this
from reference you pick.