ART II – CHARCOAL SELF-PORTRAIT
NAME:_________________
LESSON FOCUS:
This lesson focuses on creating a self-portrait using a grid and finishing in charcoal.
VOCABULARY:
Charcoal: A black or very dark-colored, brittle substance made of carbon.
Charcoal pencils: Compressed charcoal in pencil form.
Compressed charcoal: A form of charcoal made by binding together tiny particles of
ground charcoal.
Contour drawing: Drawing the edges, or contours, of figures or objects.
Portrait: Picture or image that is an attempt to achieve a likeness or representation of a
particular person.
Powdered charcoal: A form of charcoal with the same material makeup as compressed
charcoal. It can be used fro shading and other special effects realized by rubbing and
erasing the powder sprinkled on the drawing surface.
Proportion: Principle of art that combines elements in a work of art to create size
relationships of elements to the whole artwork and to each other.
Shading: The use of light and shadow to give a feeling of depth.
Value: Element of art that refers to light and dark areas. Value depends on how much
light a surface reflects.
Vine charcoal: Charcoal in its most natural state. It is made by heating vines until only
the charred, black sticks of carbon remain. These thin carbon sticks are soft, lightweight,
and extremely brittle.
PROCEDURE:
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Pose for a picture or bring in an 8”x 10” photograph of yourself to work from.
o Think about your pose and lighting.
o Do you want to zoom in and show only part of your face or do you want to
include your face and upper body?
Draw a 1”x 1” grid directly onto the photograph.
o You will have 80 - 1” squares.
o If needed, number them to help you transfer you drawing to good paper.
On a 12”x 15” piece of Bristol board, draw a 1 ½”x 1 ½” grid.
o You will have 80 – 1 ½” squares.
o If needed, number them the same way you number the grid on the photo.
Carefully create a contour drawing of your face in pencil.
o Be sure to draw LIGHTLY.
o If you don’t, the pencil lines will show through the charcoal.
o If done correctly, you will have doubled the photograph of yourself.
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Erase any and all unwanted pencil lines, including the grid lines.
Once your face is proportioned correctly, begin to shade using a variety of
charcoal.
o The vine charcoal works best for lighter values and the pencils work best
for details.
o Use the compressed charcoal last or when you are closer to being finished.
Helpful hints and tips:
o When laying out your grid and portrait, use a hard pencil and draw lightly.
o Use the vine charcoal first to block in your light to medium shadows.
o Use the charcoal pencils to add details to your features.
o Use your eraser often, it’s just as much as a drawing tool as the charcoal!!!
MATERIALS:
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8”x 10” photograph of your face
12”x 15” Bristol board (1 sheet only)
Ruler/yard stick
2h or 4h pencil
Erasers (vinyl, kneaded)
Assorted charcoal (vine, compressed, pencils, powdered)