plate no. 7845

Portrait of Ivan A. (Johann Georg) Von Lieven

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryuniformmanclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as practice blending and layering techniques to achieve realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and overall composition.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color, blending it smoothly to create depth.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, using a limited palette of skin tones.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the light and shadow to create form.
step 05
Paint the uniform, focusing on the details of the fabric, buttons, and decorations.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the hair, creating texture and volume.
step 07
Refine the details of the medals and epaulettes, using small brushes to capture the intricate designs.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · gold

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, adding small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. Achieve the dark uniform color by mixing ivory black and ultramarine blue.

techniques

·portraiture
·blending
·layering
·glazing
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions in the initial sketch.
→Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Getting lost in the details of the uniform before establishing the overall form.
→Failing to create enough contrast between the light and shadow areas.