plate no. 1879

A portrait of E. I. Makovsky

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingchairbooks

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to create form using subtle value changes and how to suggest details with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and creating a sense of depth with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes with thin washes of color, establishing the overall value structure.
step 03
Start building up the dark areas of the background and clothing, gradually adding layers of paint.
step 04
Focus on the face, carefully mixing colors to match the skin tones and capturing the likeness.
step 05
Add details to the hands and cane, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Refine the details of the clothing and chair, using loose brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Add highlights to the face and hands to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a cohesive and realistic painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix ivory black and raw umber for the dark areas, adding small amounts of burnt sienna for warmth. Use titanium white and yellow ochre for the highlights, adding a touch of cadmium red light for the skin tones.

techniques