plate no. 7426

Kalinka and Stanka

Dobri Dobrev, 1932

oilRealismportraitfiguresportraitslandscapebuildingclothingsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and clothing folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and composition.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes, focusing on the sky, hills, and building.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and hair colors of the figures.
step 04
Begin layering in the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and expressions.
step 06
Add details to the background, such as the flowers and any textures on the building.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and harmony.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Achieve the greens by mixing blue and yellow, and adjust the shade with burnt sienna or black.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·blending
·layering
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figures wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Not creating enough contrast in values.
→Using colors that are too saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, viridian green, ivory black)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·#2 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·palette knife