plate no. 7966

Portrait of Athanasius Shishmarev

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfigurelandscapeskyarchitectureclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric folds and subtle lighting effects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and composition of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the sky, the figure's clothing, and the landscape.
step 03
Focus on the skin tones, using layering and blending to create realistic highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and creases.
step 05
Refine the background, adding details to the landscape and architectural elements.
step 06
Add the final details, such as the facial features, hair, and any small elements in the background.
step 07
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust the values as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium red light

Mix yellow ochre and white for the shirt, adding small amounts of burnt umber for shadows. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, adding burnt umber for the darker areas. Mix ivory black and burnt umber for the pants.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·glazing
·layering
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle lighting effects.
→Ignoring the details in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, titanium white, ivory black, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red light)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags