plate no. 6795

Portrait of Aleksandr Blok

Konstantin Somov, 1907

gouache, pencil, watercolor, paperRealismportraitportraitfiguremanhairfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in layering colors and creating soft edges.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and collar.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the skin tones.
step 03
Begin layering and blending colors to create depth and form in the face.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone, using a range of colors to create a realistic effect.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, using fine brushes to create sharp lines and highlights.
step 06
Refine the hair, using short, broken strokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix yellow ochre and white for the base skin tone, adding small amounts of red and blue to create variations. Use raw umber for shadows and hair, and black for the darkest areas.

techniques