plate no. 3034

Boy from Sakkijarvi

oilRealismportraitportraitboyfiguredark backgroundprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using value to create form. It also provides practice in creating a moody atmosphere through limited color palette and dramatic lighting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the boy's head, shoulders, and the background.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and clothing with a dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the general skin tone with a mid-tone flesh color.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the proportions and angles.
step 05
Add highlights to the face and hair, using lighter shades of the skin tone and white.
step 06
Develop the background further, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing, adding shadows and highlights to create depth.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · burnt sienna

Mix the skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for the dark areas, and add white to create lighter shades. The background is achieved by mixing raw umber, black, and a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques