plate no. 0379

Ivan Golenishcev-Kutuzov

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothingmilitaryhistoricalmale

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and rendering realistic skin tones and fabric textures. It also provides practice in depicting complex details like medals and embellishments.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figure, paying close attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of muted browns and grays, establishing the overall tonal range.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows to define the facial features.
step 04
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery. Use a limited palette of dark blues, whites, and grays, and mix in small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.
step 05
Add the details of the medals and embellishments, using small brushes and precise strokes. Pay attention to the highlights and shadows on these objects to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth. Use soft blending techniques to create smooth transitions between tones.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition, making sure that the values and colors are balanced and harmonious.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black for the dark clothing, adding white to create lighter shades. Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the gold embellishments.

techniques

·Underpainting
·Glazing
·Scumbling
·Chiaroscuro
·Portraiture

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the figure
→Overly harsh or muddy skin tones
→Lack of detail in the medals and embellishments
→Poor blending of colors
→Getting lost in details too early

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Painting medium