plate no. 3210

Axel Bakunts portrait

Panos Terlemezian, 1932

pastel, paperRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding color temperature and subtle value shifts.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the background color with broad strokes of pastel, focusing on the overall tone and texture.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, using light and shadow to define the planes.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in hue and value.
step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Work on the clothing, using similar techniques to create form and texture.
step 07
Blend and soften edges as needed to create a smooth, naturalistic effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and dimension.