plate no. 3585

Portrait of M. V. Yakunchikova

oilSymbolismportraitportraitfigurefaceclothingpersonhead

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and expressive brushwork. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and conveying mood through color and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background color with broad strokes, varying the pink and reddish hues.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with general skin tone mixtures.
step 04
Define the shadows and highlights on the face to create form.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to their shapes and placement.
step 06
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 07
Refine the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · rose madder · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white with small amounts of rose madder, raw umber, and yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black for darker shadows and clothing.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·impasto
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Being too timid with the brushstrokes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints (rose madder, raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife

optional

·medium (e.g., Liquin)
·varnish

A medium-tooth canvas will work well for capturing the texture of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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