THREE-COLOR CHALK DRAWING, or drawing a trois crayons, is one of the most important and influential drawing techniques in the history of art. Perhaps the greatest master of the trois-crayons technique is Peter Paul Rubens, whose drawings are imbued with the warmth, vivacity and palpability of skin. His ability to simulate a full spectrum of flesh hues--with only those three colors--borders on alchemic wizardry (see Portrait Study of his son Nicolas, right).

Hue and Temperature

Fundamentally the three-color chalk technique involves the use of black, red (sanguine) and white chalks manipulated to create the effects of hue and temperature. Each of these chalks used monochromatically is wonderful for generating form and volume in a drawing, but when the three are juxtaposed and intermixed, they also establish relationships of color. The black and red colors represent the perceived temperature fluctuations in the model from the warm rose blush of a cheek to the cooler qualities of a stubbly chin. Colors that appear in the family of red, yellow or crimson (warmer colors) require more red chalk, and colors that fall into the category of violet, blue and green (cooler colors) require black chalk.

Efficient and Creative Technique

As a method for portraiture, the three-color chalk approach excels because of the clear and efficient way it creates color distinctions in the features, hair and clothing, with an element of lifelike immediacy. This technique is also a good starting point for an art student about to explore the world of color. The streamlined approach of three-color chalk limits the options and promotes color harmony simply because of its limited color range. A cleaner statement of color leads to a focus on...