plate no. 2961

Portrait of Leo Tolstoy

Mikhaïl Nesterov, 1907

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitfigurewaterlandscapetreesreedsportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, capturing likeness and form using subtle color variations, and rendering reflections in water with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, the background buildings, and the water line.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the sky, land, water, and figure using thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the form of the figure with layers of gray and white, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the face, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 05
Paint the background elements, such as the trees and buildings, using loose brushstrokes and muted colors.
step 06
Develop the water reflections by mirroring the colors and shapes of the background.
step 07
Add the reeds and other foreground details with vertical strokes.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · gray · white · green · brown

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of gray by combining white with small amounts of burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and yellow ochre. Achieve the green tones by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, adjusting the ratio for different shades.

techniques

·portraiture
·alla prima
·scumbling
·wet-on-wet blending
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Making the water reflections too literal and symmetrical.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in a painting that looks unnatural.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (gray, white, green, brown, yellow ochre, burnt umber, ultramarine blue)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil or other painting medium
·Odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·Rags or paper towels