plate no. 8713

Monk

Vasily Surikov, 1907

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfiguremonkbeardheadwearreligious

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using a limited palette to create depth and form. It also provides practice in creating texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, hat, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of red and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and hat using a limited palette.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Add details to the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the texture of the hat and clothing with thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · cadmium red · titanium white

Mix burnt umber and ivory black for the dark areas. Use raw sienna and titanium white for highlights on the face. Mix cadmium red with burnt umber for the background.

techniques