plate no. 3402
Portrait of A.M.Rimskiy-Korsakov
Fyodor Rokotov, 1760
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in layering and blending to achieve soft transitions.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color.
- step 03
Establish the main skin tones, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones to create smooth transitions.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
- step 06
Add details to the hair, capturing its texture and form.
- step 07
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red · ivory black
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black to create shadows and darker tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Getting lost in details too early, before establishing the overall form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
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