plate no. 0212

Portrait of A. N. Lvov

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitmanclothingfacehaircollar

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the basic values by blocking in the dark background and the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing.
step 03
Start building up the skin tones using thin layers of paint, gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the face, especially around the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Refine the details of the hair, clothing, and collar, using smaller brushes to create texture and definition.
step 06
Soften edges and blend transitions between values to create a smooth, realistic effect.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to bring the portrait to life.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use black and umber for the dark background and clothing, adding small amounts of blue for depth.

techniques