plate no. 0760

Portrait of Jan Stanislawski

Oleksandr Murashko, 1906

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingchairbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating depth through value and color variations. It also offers practice in loose brushwork and achieving a painterly effect.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the main value areas with thin washes of color, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
step 03
Block in the larger areas of color, such as the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the details of the face, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and chair, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Create the background with loose, expressive brushstrokes, blending the colors together to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of realism.
step 08
Refine edges and details as needed to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of gray and brown by combining ivory black, titanium white, raw umber, and burnt sienna. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red light to create warm skin tones. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue to cool down the colors.

techniques