plate no. 0467

Portrait of Louise Morgan

Konstantin Somov, 1926

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureflowersbooksfurnitureclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as rendering fabric and floral patterns with subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, including the floral pattern on the furniture and the bookshelf.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones and values of the face, neck, and hands, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery, and the way the light interacts with the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the floral pattern on the furniture, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 07
Refine the details of the background, including the books on the shelf and the flowers in the vase.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, yellow ochre, and cadmium red light, with small amounts of raw umber and ultramarine blue for shadows. Create the floral patterns by mixing various combinations of the primary and secondary colors.

techniques