plate no. 4779

Portrait of M. Nesterova, the first wife of the artist

oilRealismportraitportraitfigurewomanclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in mixing realistic skin tones and creating soft edges.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, paying attention to the placement of facial features.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using simplified shapes.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones by layering and blending colors, focusing on the subtle transitions between light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, carefully observing the shapes and values.
step 06
Develop the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Refine the clothing and collar, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, raw umber, and burnt sienna, with small amounts of red for warmth. Greens are created by mixing viridian and raw umber. Varying the proportions will create the subtle shifts in color needed for realistic rendering.

techniques