Project type: Drawing
Objective: Draw a self-portrait from life using chiaroscuro and sfumato technique, with charcoal and conté.
Solution: I started with a cream coloured paper, 18"x24". With a razor blade, I shaved bits of brown conté all over the paper and smeared it with a paper towel to create an undertone. Then I used a combination of erasing,
Chiaroscuro is an art technique most famously used by Caravaggio, noted for its dramatic contrast between light and dark.
Sfumato (from the Italian word for smoke "fumo") is a technique that aims for smooth blending between light and dark.
The most challenging part of this project was getting started. I had never drawn myself from a mirror before, since I was afraid of messing it up. But once I got into it, it wasn't any different from regular figure drawing. I just got to stare at my model for however long I liked!
