plate no. 4280

Portrait of a singer I.V. Ershov

Boris Kustodiev, 1905

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in capturing likeness, understanding light and shadow on a face, and using charcoal or similar media to create tonal variations. It also encourages observation of subtle facial features and proportions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall proportions and pose of the figure.
step 02
Establish the main shapes of the head, shoulders, and hair.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas with charcoal or graphite, paying attention to the shadows on the face and clothing.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones, blending the charcoal to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Use a kneaded eraser to lift out highlights and refine the shapes.
step 06
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing and hair, adding texture and depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and contrasts to create a balanced and compelling portrait.

color palette

primary · charcoal gray · sepia · ivory black

secondary · raw umber · light ochre

Achieve the skin tones by layering sepia and light ochre, and use charcoal to create the darker shadows. Mix ivory black with raw umber for the clothing and hair.

techniques

·charcoal blending
·value shading
·portrait drawing
·highlighting
·cross-hatching

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Not paying close enough attention to proportions and likeness.
→Using too much pressure with the charcoal, making it difficult to blend.

materials

surface · toned drawing paper

required

·Charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
·Kneaded eraser
·Blending stumps
·Drawing paper (toned tan or gray)
·Fixative spray
·Pencil sharpener

optional

·White chalk or pastel pencil
·Sandpaper block

Using toned paper will help to establish mid-tones quickly and create a more dynamic portrait. Experiment with different charcoal grades to achieve a range of values.

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