plate no. 4925
Count Nikolai Tolstoy with his wife Anna Ivanovna and their son Alexander
Angelica Kauffman, 1795
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in the background.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 25 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of figures.
- step 02
Block in the background with thin washes of green and brown, establishing the light and shadow.
- step 03
Establish the skin tones of the figures, paying attention to subtle variations in color.
- step 04
Begin layering the clothing, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create form.
- step 05
Add details to the faces, including eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture likeness.
- step 06
Refine the details of the clothing, including lace, ribbons, and buttons.
- step 07
Add final touches to the background, including details of the trees and foliage.
- step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and add depth.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · raw umber · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · sap green · purple
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create greens by mixing yellow and blue, and adjust the shade with brown or black.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes sizes 2, 4, 6
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·damar varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paint and improve flow.
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