plate no. 9651
Portrait of M.I.Lopukhina
Vladimir Borovikovsky, 1797
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as practice blending techniques to create soft transitions.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, dress, background.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Develop the details of the dress, including the folds and highlights.
- step 05
Paint the background elements, such as the trees and sky, using soft, blended brushstrokes.
- step 06
Add the details of the hair and jewelry.
- step 07
Refine the facial features to capture the likeness of the subject.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light
secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · alizarin crimson
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use ultramarine and white to create the sky. Mix greens with yellow and blue, adding umber for darker shades.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·glazing
- ·color mixing
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Creating harsh lines or edges.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
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