plate no. 9517

Portrait of Alexei Orlov

oilRococoportraitportraitfigureclothinghatmedalribbon

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabrics and textures. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve subtle skin tones and fabric highlights.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape and the figure's pose, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, clothing, hat, and background.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using layers of thin paint to build up highlights and shadows.
step 04
Work on the clothing, focusing on the folds and drapery to create a sense of volume.
step 05
Add details to the hat, medals, and ribbons, paying attention to their textures and patterns.
step 06
Refine the background, creating a soft and atmospheric effect.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and create a polished finish.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · viridian

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use black and umber to create shadows. Achieve the blue ribbon color by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of green.

techniques