plate no. 6962

Portrait of Alexander Shishkov

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitfigureclothingbookschairletter

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering skin tones, and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in painting textures like fabric and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and books.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of muted brown and ochre tones.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a mix of white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Begin layering the clothing, starting with the dark blues and blacks, and gradually adding highlights and details.
step 05
Paint the books and chair, focusing on their textures and colors.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add details to the clothing, such as the gold embroidery and buttons.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · gold

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Create shadows by adding burnt umber or a touch of blue to the skin tone mix. Muted greens are achieved by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue.

techniques