plate no. 1957

Portrait of Ballerina S.Kolyvanova

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanbluedresshands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing form with loose, expressive brushstrokes. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex shapes and focusing on essential values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes of muted colors, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure, starting with the blue robe and dress.
step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Develop the folds and shadows in the robe and dress, using darker shades of blue.
step 07
Define the hands, paying attention to the shapes of the fingers and knuckles.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cerulean blue

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine with white and a touch of yellow ochre. Create skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a small amount of burnt umber.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color temperature
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong, especially the hands.
→Using colors that are too saturated and not capturing the muted tones of the painting.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, raw sienna, cerulean blue)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits