Portrait of Whistler with a Paintbrush

About this work

This sketch shows a man standing with one hand in his pocket, holding a paintbrush in the other. His hair is curly and wild, and he’s dressed in a loose shirt and pants. The lines are scratchy and thick, almost like quick scribbles. The artist used lots of overlapping lines to fill in the background and clothes—this makes the drawing look textured and alive. It’s not super detailed, but the energy in the lines gives the guy a lively feel. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build up shadows with lines.