In this lesson, instructor Chris Legaspi will teach you how to render using the most fundamental drawing material; graphite. You will learn about the main drawing steps, including laying in, creating the separation of lights and darks, filling in the value shapes, rendering the core shadows, and refining the small details. Chris will introduce you to the “beats of three” concept and show you how to apply them in the constructions of the female portraits and the hand.

This lesson belongs to the course An Overview of Rendering Techniques. In this 9-week course, Chris Legaspi teaches you a variety of techniques for rendering your drawings and paintings. You will learn to create lay-ins, mass in value shapes, refine, and render using different mediums. Whether you are working in pencil, conté, charcoal, watercolor, or oil paints, this course will help give you the skills and approaches needed for developing your rendering style.

Throughout this course, you’ll have access to the NMA community for feedback and critiques to improve your work as you progress.