plate no. 8119

Portrait of a Boy

Aleksandr Deyneka, 1915

oilRealismportraitportraitboyhatfigureclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in capturing likeness, understanding basic proportions, and using hatching and cross-hatching to create form and shadow. It also provides practice in working with a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the main light source and map out areas of light and shadow on the face and hat.
step 03
Begin adding layers of color with light pressure, starting with the base skin tone and hat color.
step 04
Use hatching and cross-hatching to build up darker values in the shadows, especially around the eyes, nose, and under the hat brim.
step 05
Add subtle color variations to the skin and clothing to create depth and interest.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth to capture the boy's likeness.
step 07
Add the background with loose, gestural strokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · ochre · raw umber · white

secondary · green · reddish brown

Mix ochre and raw umber with varying amounts of white to create the skin tones and hat color. Use small amounts of green and reddish brown to add subtle variations and shadows.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·blending
·layering
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Failing to establish a clear light source, resulting in flat, lifeless shadows.
→Using too much pressure and creating harsh, unnatural lines.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations and creating a monotonous, one-dimensional portrait.

materials

surface · toned paper

required

·toned paper
·graphite pencils (HB, 2B)
·colored pencils (ochre, raw umber, white, green, reddish brown)
·kneaded eraser
·blending stump
·pencil sharpener

optional

·fixative spray
·ruler

Choose a toned paper that is similar in color to the original artwork. Experiment with different colored pencils to find the best match for the original palette.

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