plate no. 1961

Kachalov Vasily Ivanovich in the Role of Tsar Fedor Ivanovich

Boris Grigoriev, 1923

oilExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresportraitsclothingbooklandscapebuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing facial expressions and rendering skin tones with limited color palettes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms and using visible brushstrokes to create texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 03
Block in the local colors of the clothing and skin, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and background, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Adjust the values and colors as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to enhance the realism of the figures.
step 08
Glaze to unify the colors

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining black, umber, and white. Use small amounts of red and yellow to warm up the skin tones. Add blue to create cooler shadows.

techniques