plate no. 5550

Portrait of F.F. Rezanov

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanbeardclothingwalking stick

some experience helpful

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

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main value areas on the face, clothing, and beard.
step 04
Begin layering colors and refining the details of the face, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Work on the clothing, building up layers of color to create depth and texture.
step 06
Add details to the beard, using small brushstrokes to create individual hairs.
step 07
Refine the background and add any final details, such as the walking stick and jewelry.
step 08
Glaze and adjust colors as needed for a cohesive final result.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten values and add subtle highlights. A touch of red and yellow can warm up skin tones.

techniques