plate no. 7770
Portrait of Folk Story-teller V.P. Schegolenkov
Ilya Repin, 1879
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good opportunity to practice portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and texture. Students can develop skills in layering paint and creating subtle value changes to model form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, background, and chair.
- step 04
Begin layering paint to refine the forms and create depth, paying attention to light and shadow.
- step 05
Work on the details of the face, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
- step 06
Add texture to the beard and clothing using dry brush techniques.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details of the chair and hands.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · raw sienna · ivory black · cadmium red
Mix skin tones using titanium white, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red. Create darker values by adding burnt umber or ivory black. Use raw sienna and burnt umber for the chair.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·value studies
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Over-blending and losing the texture of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grit canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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