plate no. 1925

A portrait of Dmitry Rovinsky

oilRealismportraitportraitfigurebeardclothingbooksinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark areas of the clothing and background.
step 03
Begin layering in the mid-tones and highlights on the face, hands, and beard, paying attention to the subtle color variations.
step 04
Develop the details of the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression of the subject.
step 05
Add texture to the beard using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the clothing and background, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall color harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black to create the dark tones of the clothing. Achieve the beard's color by layering white with small amounts of yellow ochre and raw umber.

techniques