plate no. 5901
Portrait of Artist Ivan Mrkvička
Dobri Dobrev, 1929
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in creating depth using subtle value changes and soft brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the large shapes of the face, beard, clothing, and background.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Develop the texture of the beard using short, broken brushstrokes and varying values.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing and chair, using subtle value changes to create form.
- step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · cadmium red light
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, and titanium white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red light to create subtle warmth in the skin tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·value control
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Creating overly harsh or unnatural skin tones.
- →Losing the overall sense of light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·oil paints (raw umber, titanium white, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, ivory black, cadmium red light)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·#2 round brush
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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