This document provides an introduction to techniques for charcoal portraits and self-portraits, including chiaroscuro lighting in the style of Rembrandt. It discusses using directional light from a single source to define planes of the skull and explores contour lines, gesture, and body language. Examples are given of works by Rembrandt, Manet, Botticelli, Otto Dix, Lucien Freud, Auguste Rodin, and Alice Miller that demonstrate these techniques.

1. Introduction to Charcoal and
Gesture
Exploring the Portrait/Self-Portrait
Glenn Hirsch, Instructor

2. charcoal technique

14. Chiaroscuro Lighting
in the style of Rembrandt

15. Rembrandt
“chiaroscuro” means “clear dark”
The figure emerges from the shadow into
a spotlight

17. Manet
Rembrandt
Botticelli

18. Rembrandt Memling
Compare the left with the right .

19. Chiaroscuro Light (the
object emerges from
deep shadow into a
spotlight

25. Review of last week
shape of the skull

26. The skull in 3/4 view (the
view in which you most
often see it in life).
Directional light from a
single source helps to
define the planes of the
skull.
Otto Dix, 1913

27. The boundary
between the
side of the face
and the front.

28. -Eyes are in
shadow;
- The upper lip is
in shadow;
-There’s a 'ball' at
the end of the
nose;
-The chin is
rounded.
Lucien Freud

29. Review of last week
Contour Line

30. Variety of line = "beauty"
fast/slow
thick/thin
light/dark

31. Blind contour drawing
drawing without looking at the paper

32. Gesture and
body
language

33. Body language
The tilt of the head
gives added interest
to a portrait.
Auguste Rodin

34. Alice Miller

35. Alice Miller