Supplies
- Suitable reproduction of one of the Caravaggio paintings from the list
- A mirror or suitable photographs of yourself to draw from
- 2 sheets of good quality drawing paper, 22" x 30" taped together to make one large sheet
- a tape measure or ruler to measure you page size
- Masking tape to tape paper together
- Vine charcoal to sketch with
- Charcoal pencils for detail
- Compressed charcoal
- Chamois
- Erasers
The final project is to select a painting by Caravaggio, from the list provided and complete a large drawing of the complete painting. You must capture every element of the painting including the full tonal range and environment. This is a faithful master copy with one exception: You must choose one of the characters in painting and replace it with a portrait of yourself.
To achieve this ambitious project you will need an accurate reproduction of the painting. After selecting one of the paintings from the list look for a detailed image of it in a book or on the web. There are several books in the Everett library on Caravaggio exclusively or you may find a suitable image in general books on Italian painting, European painting, late Renaissance painting, Baroque painting, paintings in Rome, images from the Vatican or history of painting. There are lots of images by Caravaggio on the web but not all of them are high enough quality.
Project Timeline
Since this is a monumental five week project it is important that you work hard on your drawing every week. This ambitious drawing will take the full five weeks to develop. Bring in your drawing every week for critique.
Week One: Select painting from list, find suitable reproduction, assemble sheet of paper from assigned measurements out of drawing quality 18 x 24” white paper, start line drawing of figures objects and space.
Week Two: Finish line drawing of all figures, objects and space
Week Three: Block out five major areas of tone: white, light grey, medium, dark gray and black
Week Four: Push the tonal range of the drawing by layering, chamoising and erasing the charcoal, adding specificity.
Week Five: Finish drawing
Grading
Your drawing will be graded throughout the process.
- Line drawing of composition and figures. Grading is based on proportion, accuracy and completion in a timely manner
- Tonal range of drawing. Grading is based on use of charcoal, hierarchy of light and subtlety of values range.
- Accuracy of self-portrait and other figures
Getting Started
After you have selected one of the paintings from the list to reproduce, check the measurements that I provided (hand-written next to the piece). This is the size of your final project. Most of the drawings are about 36” x 45” so you will have to assemble a sheet of large paper out of several 18” x 24” sheets. Make sure you overlap the sheets by an inch or so and tape them securely on the back. Although it is not necessary and will not affect your grade you can purchase a large sheet of drawing paper. I recommend Lenox because it is large and relatively cheap. You can also by rolls of Strathmore 400 paper (the same paper that is in the pad).
Once you have made your drawing sheet of paper the exact size listed you can begin. You will find that you can transfer the accurate proportion of the figures if you first create a grid on the original image of the painting. If you are working from a book, photocopy the painting you are reproducing for this step. Below you will see an image of the painting Sacrifice of Isaac divided into quarters. The simplest way to divide a rectangle in half is to draw the diagonals from each corner. Where they cross is the center. After you have divided your original into quarters with diagonals you can then replicate this simple grid on to your piece of drawing paper. This will give you a proportional reference like the horizontal and vertical alignments that we use when drawing from life.
Important Note:
Do not make the grid on you paper in pencil make it in charcoal pencil. Charcoal cannot draw over graphite or pencil lines.
This grid method is a wonderful way to get started and get the basic proportions and placement of figures. But it is always important to trust your eyes as well. The grid method requires that measurements and lines on the original and drawing paper are exactly proportional, if either is a little off, your transfer is affected.
