plate no. 1174

Portrait of Alexander Pushkin

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfigureclothingstatuehairbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures and subtle color variations in clothing and background elements.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure and statue.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the figure's clothing and skin tones.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and proportions of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the folds and shadows in the fabric.
step 06
Paint the statue, paying attention to its form and the way light falls on it.
step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and realistic image.
step 08
Add final details, such as highlights in the eyes and subtle variations in skin tone.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Achieve dark tones by mixing ivory black and burnt umber.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Overblending skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Neglecting subtle color variations in the clothing and background.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels