The Principles

To properly imitate this Example and all others, after drawing the outline with charcoal, switch to the red crayon. Then use breadcrumbs to erase the charcoal's residue, lightly touching up areas such as hair, eyes, nose, mouth, fingers, toes, and the outline. It's important to make light lines on the areas that receive light and stronger lines on those in shadow. This maintains a natural outline, enhancing the beauty and grace of the human figures or any other objects depicted.

Next, begin shading with simple hatching, but methodically strong, starting at the top and working evenly downwards. If possible, maintain consistent space between the lines. Move on to lighter tones or roundness, conveyed through simple lines, more or less light, depending on the object in view; cross-hatching should be avoided. At this point, much of the work is done. To complete it and give strength to the shadows, doubles and triples of hatching may be necessary, as previously stated.

Check the Copy to ensure nothing is missing and confirm it aligns with your Model from top to bottom. Retouch shadows if they are not strong enough.

Regarding each column corner, brightly lit areas are called the "extreme light," while the dark areas, where no light appears, are known as "extreme shadow." Rounded ends at the surface or contour indicate "roundness" since a column appears rounded when viewed from the front as compared to the side; this is called "half-tone," where light fades and disappears.

Similar observations apply not only to columns but also to all round bodies, each varies where the light escapes more or less on the surface, called "fading tones." The term "half-tone" is used because it sits between the extreme light and extreme shadow, uniting these contrasts.

For example, with intricate sculptures like those on Trajan’s and Antonine’s columns, each has its own extreme light and shadow, although each figure includes its own play of light and shadow. It's similar to a cluster of grapes, each grape has its own light and shadow but together they present as round.

When using red chalk, beginners may find these strokes challenging to execute; however, they help steady the hand, as it's crucial that lines are equally thick or thin, tight or spread apart. This is to ensure dark or light shades become more apparent.

This accuracy is pivotal as each stroke's outcome, much like arithmetic—knowing two times two makes four—must be precise. Despite appearing tedious initially, skills and steadiness will improve over time.

It may seem peculiar to demonstrate the same Example in three or four different ways; this variety ensures accurate copying, and a better understanding of hatching techniques is gained, evident in the tilting head sketches.

Note the hatching appearing on the forehead of the example facing upwards.

Translation Notes

Rondeur: Translated as 'roundness', refers to how an object appears rounded when viewed from specific angles.

Teintes fuyantes: Translated as 'fading tones', indicating gradation or movement of light.