plate no. 5648

Portrait of Ivan Vasilievich Argamakov

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryuniformmanbackground

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 fabric and metallic textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of muted greens and browns.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and uniform, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Refine the facial features, adding details like the eyes, nose, and mouth, and blending the skin tones.
step 05
Paint the uniform, focusing on the details of the collar, epaulettes, and buttons.
step 06
Add the medals and decorations, paying close attention to their shapes, colors, and textures.
step 07
Refine the hair, adding highlights and shadows to create volume and texture.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the values to create a sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using 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 burnt umber, and use ultramarine blue to cool it down.

techniques