Composition Exercise: Tonal Study after Richard Schmid

Want to draw realistic portraits & figures? My masterclass teaches gesture, construction, anatomy & shading: https://bit.ly/4wrgswG Download your free Portrait & Figure Drawing Cheatsheet here: https://bit.ly/4u13mEK Join my next livestream drawing session with a real model: https://www.drawwithchris.com/live/?&... My name is Chris Legaspi. I'm a figurative artist, author, and educator with over 20 years of professional experience in classical drawing and painting. I trained in Los Angeles under some of America's most respected realist painters — including Steve Huston and Nathan Fowkes — and have worked with clients like Disney, Marvel, Netflix, and Warner Bros. on major Hollywood productions. I'm the author of two internationally published art books, now translated into seven languages, and an instructor at New Masters Academy. My life's work is guided by one belief: beauty matters — and beauty is divine. Everything I create, teach, and share is in service of restoring the standard of classical Western realism in the world. Do you struggle with composition or making your drawings feel intentional and dynamic? One of the best ways to improve is to study the work of a master. In this video, I walk you through a simple but powerful composition exercise: a tonal study inspired by the work of American master painter Richard Schmid. You’ll see how I analyze and simplify the image into clear value masses, design the composition, and train the eye to see what really matters. This is an excellent practice for painters and drawers who want stronger compositions, better value control, and more confident design decisions.