Chiaroscuro Self Portraits

Introduction: In seventeenth century Europe, with the spiritual change in the Counter-Reformation Catholic Church, a revolutionary new style of art, the Baroque, developed. Paintings of the Italian Baroque exhibited unprecedented drama and intensity Artists including Artemisa Gentileschi and Caravaggio used the technique of chiaroscuro to render their subjects with theatrical flair.

Project Objective: As a means of introducing students to the effectiveness of the chiaroscuro technique, students create self portrait drawings employing a full range of values.

Materials:

·       8 x 10 inch drawing paper

·       Charcoal or graphite pencils

·      Erasers

Steps:

·       Take photos of each student outside on a bright, sunny day. Ask students not to smile for the source photo. Upload photos to the computer and have each printed to 8x10 inches.

·       Students begin the drawing after instruction of basic facial proportions. Scale should be just under life size.

·       Ask students to take a minute to notice to differences in lights and darks that take place across the surface of their face.  Look for the darkest areas and block those in with a dark value.

·       Continue adding value to the drawing applying the darker values first and building up to the lighter values. It may help to squint your eyes to more easily identify the breakdown of lights and darks.

·       Try to create at least seven value changes in your drawing.

·       Remember that shadows increase the drama of your portrait . Shadows tend to be darker closer to the subject and get lighter as they move away.

·      Render the subject carefully, taking your time to be as accurate as possible. 

·   Optional Additional assignment:

Ask students to complete a value scale before they start the portrait. On a small sheet of paper, have students draw seven one-inch squares. After allowing the first square to remain white and making the last square completely black, fill in the scale with appropriate values in between. Students can then use these scales as a reference when completing their portrait drawing

Vocabulary:

Baroque Art: Style of artistic expression in the seventeenth century which created a pattern of contrasting areas of light and shadow that give a look of dynamic, continuous movement. The works of this period suggest drama, vitality, movement, tension, and emotional exuberance.

Chiaroscuro: Italian for “light-dark.” Dramatic light and shadow, specifically using hard edge cast shadows, that helps create the illusion of three-dimensionality.

Value: Lightness or darkness

Gradations: Gradual passing from one tint to another.

Composition: The organization all of the elements of a work of art into a harmoniously unified whole.

Positive Space: The area defining the primary subject matter.

Negative Space: The area void of primary subject matter.

Aesthetics: The theory of beauty in art.

Medium (plural - media): The material of which an artwork is made (oil paint, charcoal, etc.)

Picture Plane: The surface area of a two-dimensional piece of art.