plate no. 0462

Moses (Portrait of Andrei Sheptytsky)

Oleksa Novakivskyi, 1919

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurebeardlandscapeclothingcross

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a rough sketch of the figure's proportions and pose.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, beard, clothing, and background.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 04
Add detail to the beard, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 05
Develop the background landscape with loose, expressive brushwork.
step 06
Refine the clothing folds and add details like the cross and cane.
step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, umber, and a touch of yellow. Create the beard color by mixing umber, sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use blue and white for cooler tones in the background.

techniques