plate no. 3728
Alexandre Benkendorf
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering complex details like clothing and accessories.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 30 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main shapes and areas of color, focusing on the overall composition.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and begin to refine the facial features.
- step 04
Develop the details of the uniform, including the buttons, braids, and epaulettes.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 06
Refine the background and add any remaining details.
- step 07
Glaze layers to unify the painting and adjust color values.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the portrait.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and raw umber for dark areas, and add blue for cooler shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong
- →Overworking the details too early
- →Failing to capture the likeness
- →Creating muddy colors
- →Ignoring the importance of value contrast
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·damar varnish
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Romantic Landscape
Karl Lessing
Self-portrait with his brother Francesco
Giuseppe Tominz
Oenone Refuse de Secourir Pâris au Siège de Troie
Léon Cogniet
Duke of Alba
Francisco Goya
Blick Aus Dem Wald Ins Tal
Andreas Achenbach
Young Girl Fixing Her Hair
Sophie Gengembre Anderson
The Plough Inn
William Shayer
Hudson River Landscape
Johann Hermann Carmiencke