plate no. 2386
Portrait of A.F. Pysems'kogo
Vasily Perov, 1869
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth through subtle value changes and soft blending.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hands.
- step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color, blending it smoothly.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with mid-tones, focusing on the planes of the face and the shadows.
- step 04
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes and subtle color variations.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and wrinkles, and the way the light falls on the fabric.
- step 06
Add details to the hair and beard, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
- step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final details, such as the jewelry and the details of the chair.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining umbers, black, and white. Add small amounts of red and yellow to warm up the skin tones. Use blue to cool down shadows.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·value studies
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the highlights and shadows.
- →Not capturing the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to help establish the overall color scheme.
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