plate no. 0911

Baron Alexander Stroganov

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinghistorical figurehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and details like buttons and lace.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and main lines of the clothing.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted green and brown tones.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: the skin tones, green coat, red sash, and white collar.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, layering light and shadow to create form. Pay attention to the subtle color variations in the face.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and highlights in the coat and sash.
step 06
Add the details of the hair, buttons, and any other embellishments.
step 07
Refine the background and adjust the overall values to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Muted greens are created with viridian, yellow ochre, and umber. The red sash requires cadmium red mixed with a touch of umber for depth.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
→Making the colors too bright or saturated.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and color in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, viridian green, ultramarine blue)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil or painting medium
·Odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·Palette knife
·Rags or paper towels