plate no. 5373
Portrait of a Woman
Alexei Korzukhin, 1875
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations. It also provides practice in rendering soft textures and achieving a realistic likeness.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders using light pencil lines.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even wash of muted green-brown.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of value on the face, hair, and clothing, focusing on the overall light and shadow patterns.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Develop the hair with layers of dark brown and highlights, following the direction of the strands.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, including the collar, bow, and fur trim, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 07
Refine the skin tones with subtle glazes and highlights, blending carefully to create a smooth transition.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to the eyes, hair, and clothing to bring the portrait to life.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre
secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use burnt umber and white for the hair, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for highlights. The background is a mix of burnt umber, viridian green, and white.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·value studies
- ·rendering
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Overly harsh or unnatural skin tones.
- →Lack of attention to detail in the facial features.
- →Insufficient blending of colors, resulting in a choppy or uneven appearance.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, viridian green)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before painting.
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