plate no. 2867

Portrait of Emperor Nicholas II

Valentin Serov, 1900

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingmilitary uniformfacial hair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabric, and capturing likeness with loose brushstrokes. It will also help them understand how to create depth and form using subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of muted grays and blues.
step 03
Establish the main value areas on the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Begin to define the features of the face, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add the details of the uniform, including the collar, epaulettes, and buttons.
step 06
Refine the hands, capturing their gesture and form.
step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value contrast to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Achieve the blue-gray of the uniform by mixing black, white, and ultramarine blue. Use red sparingly for accents on the uniform.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·value study

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Using colors that are too saturated or intense.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium red, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife