plate no. 5736
Portrait of Fyodor I. Talyzin
George Dawe, 1825
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in painting details like medals and intricate clothing.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure on the canvas.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of golden brown.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, clothing, and hair.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Add details to the uniform, including the collar, epaulettes, and medals.
- step 06
Develop the hair, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · raw sienna
Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber with white for skin tones, adjusting the ratio for highlights and shadows. Use cadmium red for the collar and epaulettes, adding black or umber to darken the color. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber for the dark areas of the uniform.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·blending
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Making the colors too saturated or unnatural.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas (16x20 inches) is recommended for beginners.
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