plate no. 9744

Portrait of Alexander Golytsyn

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfigureclothingbusttableinterior

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict textures like velvet and lace.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and bust.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of warm browns and grays.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure's clothing with mid-tone reds and browns.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to values and subtle color variations.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the lace, embroidery, and the blue sash.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the figure and clothing.
step 07
Refine the details of the table and the objects on it.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the painting and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · red ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve the various reds by mixing red ochre with burnt umber and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create the blue sash. Mix browns with yellow ochre and burnt umber for the background and shadows.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Not paying enough attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints: red ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, ivory black, yellow ochre
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags