plate no. 8730

Portrait of Alexander Kokorinov, Director and First Rector of the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg.

oil, canvasRococoportraitfigureportraitclothingfurnituredesksheet music

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as rendering complex textures and fabrics. It also provides practice in creating depth and atmosphere through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure and furniture.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 05
Add the details of the furniture and other objects in the background.
step 06
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Glaze to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow

secondary · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve the skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium yellow, alizarin crimson, and a touch of raw umber. Create the darks using ivory black and burnt umber. Muted gold tones are achieved by mixing cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, and a touch of ivory black.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering fabric

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details before establishing the overall values.
→Failing to capture the subtle nuances of skin tone.
→Creating harsh lines and edges instead of soft transitions.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife