Drawing a Classical Plaster Cast in Charcoal — A Study in Form, Light, and Tradition
- James Otto Allen
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
Plaster casts have long been a cornerstone of classical art education — and for good reason. Their simplified white surfaces, strong form, and timeless elegance make them ideal for studying light, shadow, and structure. In my latest YouTube video, I take you through my charcoal drawing of a particularly challenging plaster cast head, from start to finish.
This was a complex sculpture — a Roman or Ancient Greek-style mask, full of deep-set features, sharp planes, and flowing locks of hair. I used A3 paper, willow charcoal, a blending stump, and PanPastel Sofft tools to create soft transitions and solid forms throughout the drawing.
Why Draw Plaster Casts?
Historically, plaster casts of classical sculptures were used by students at 19th-century and beyond, in art academies and ateliers as a bridge between drawing from flat images and drawing from life. Their uniform white tone simplifies by removing local colour — you're left with just form and light to focus on.
Cast drawing trains your eye to see subtle shifts in value which would be tricky from life if you're only just starting to draw.
What You'll See in the Video
In this demo, I:
Block in the basic shapes and angles
Establish a clear shadow/light separation
Build up value slowly using charcoal
Use blending tools and erasers to model the form
Share thoughts on materials and techniques throughout
You’ll see the full process from start to finish, with narrated insights and tips for each stage of the drawing.
Free Download: Reference Photo + Step-by-Step Images
To help you follow along or try it yourself, I’ve created a downloadable folder that includes:
The original reference photo I used
Several step-by-step progress shots of my drawing
Want to Keep Learning?
If you enjoyed this video, you might also like:
I’ll be releasing a full drawing course later this year, so make sure you subscribe on YouTube and join my mailing list to be the first to hear when it gets released.
Thanks so much for reading, and I hope the video gives you some inspiration for your next study. As always, feel free to tag me on social media if you try a cast drawing of your own — I’d love to see it.
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