plate no. 2213

Portrait of Alexei Davydov

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurepipebooksheadwrapclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and textures.

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 figure, books, and pipe.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with thin washes of diluted paint, focusing on the darkest areas first.
step 03
Begin building up the mid-tones, gradually adding more detail to the face and clothing.
step 04
Pay close attention to the light source and how it affects the form of the subject.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add highlights to the headwrap, face, and clothing to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 07
Render the books and pipe with careful attention to their textures and forms.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to create a cohesive and compelling portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix raw umber and burnt umber with white to create a range of neutral tones for the skin and clothing. Add small amounts of yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones. Use ivory black sparingly to create the darkest shadows.

techniques

·grisaille
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using too much color and losing the subtle tonal variations.
→Getting the proportions wrong, especially in the face.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Raw umber oil paint
·Burnt umber oil paint
·Titanium white oil paint
·Ivory black oil paint
·Yellow ochre oil paint
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Odorless mineral spirits

optional

·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Retouch varnish

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A toned canvas (e.g., with a thin wash of raw umber) can be helpful for establishing the initial value structure.

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