plate no. 9206

Portrait of Doctor Nikola Lambrev

Georgi Mashev, 1944

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingmustachebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and clothing. It also provides practice in creating subtle value shifts to suggest form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, paying attention to the placement of key features.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of green and gray.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure with dark and mid-tone values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and proportions.
step 05
Develop the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of ochre, red, and white.
step 06
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 07
Add details such as the mustache, tie, and hand holding the object.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding highlights to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining black, umber, and ochre. Use white to lighten these colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of blue or red to adjust the temperature of the skin tones.

techniques