plate no. 1668

Portrait of Marusia

David Burliuk, 1933

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfigurefacewomanhairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of red, noting variations in tone.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face and neck using a limited palette of yellows, browns, and whites.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Define the clothing with darker tones, suggesting folds and shadows.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black

Mix yellow ochre and white for the base skin tone, adding small amounts of red and umber for warmth and shadow. Use ultramarine blue and white for the eyes. Mix black and umber for the darker areas of the clothing.

techniques

·blocking in
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→getting the proportions wrong
→over-blending the skin tones
→using too much detail too early
→not paying attention to the light source

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (cadmium red, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits