plate no. 5442
Portrait of Anatoly Kramskoy, the Artist`s Son
Ivan Kramskoy, 1882
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: background, clothing, skin, and chair.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, layering colors to create depth and warmth.
- step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Work on the clothing, using darker values to create form and texture.
- step 06
Refine the background and chair, adding subtle details and variations in color.
- step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing.
- step 08
Check proportions and values, making any necessary adjustments.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
secondary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of burnt umber. Darken shadows with burnt umber and ivory black. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the blacks.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·value studies
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or muddy appearance.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the light and shadow areas.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background and clothing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas can help to establish the dark background.
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