plate no. 5987

Portrait of Artist's Spouse

Oleksa Novakivskyi, 1906

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureheadscarfclothingjewelryshadow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and layering brushstrokes to create form and texture. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness and mood of a subject.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the main areas of color.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, headscarf, and jewelry, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression of the subject.
step 06
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Adjust the overall composition and color balance as needed.
step 08
Add final details and highlights

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use blue and green to create shadows and cool tones. Add white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques