plate no. 6150

Portrait of Ivan Morozov

Valentin Serov, 1910

cardboard, temperaRealismportraitportraitfigurestill lifetableclothingman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through layering and brushwork. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and conveying personality through paint.

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 and background elements.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of diluted tempera.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, mixing colors carefully and layering them to create depth.
step 04
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 05
Add details to the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Work on the background still life, using loose brushstrokes to suggest the forms.
step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · raw sienna

Mix burnt umber and yellow ochre with white for skin tones, adding small amounts of red or blue to adjust the temperature. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber for darks, and cadmium red and yellow ochre for the fruit.

techniques