Portrait of Artist K.Bornikov

surface prep

The canvas should be properly primed to accept oil paint. While specific ground recipes for Makovsky are not detailed in the sources, traditional oil painting practices of the period involved preparing a stable surface to ensure the paint film remains strong and does not crack or peel (Source 5). The artist must ensure the ground is dry before beginning.

underdrawing

Begin by sketching the subject onto the canvas using charcoal or thinned paint (Source 5). This initial drawing should focus on capturing the 'artistic accuracy' of the sitter’s form and emotional significance, rather than just scientific precision (Source 8). The drawing serves as the foundation for the likeness, which is the primary intent of portrait painting (Source 3).

underpainting

Apply an initial layer of thinned paint to establish the basic tones and forms. This layer should be 'lean' (containing more solvent than oil) to allow for proper drying and to adhere to the 'fat over lean' rule, which prevents cracking in subsequent layers (Source 5). This stage allows the artist to correct major compositional errors before applying heavier paint.

Fat over Lean

Each additional layer of paint should contain more oil than the layer below to allow proper drying and prevent cracking.

Simultaneous Contrast

Awareness that adjacent colors influence each other; the painter must perceive and imitate these modifications to achieve harmony.

Artistic Accuracy

Prioritizing the emotional significance and character of the sitter over mere scientific replication of facts.