plate no. 8933

Portrait of M. Lukyanov

Konstantin Somov, 1918

oilSymbolismportraitportraitfigurerobecouchindoorman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle skin tone variations, as well as rendering fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and the oval format.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, couch, and figure.
step 03
Start building up the skin tones using thin layers of paint, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the robe, paying attention to the pattern and folds.
step 05
Refine the features of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the hands and jewelry.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue for darker shadows and to create the background.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (oval shape if possible)
·oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, raw sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits