plate no. 8098

Portrait of Maxim Gorky

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky, 1940

oilRealismportraitportraitbookshelffiguredeskbooksinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting complex textures and details, such as the books and papers.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background bookshelf.
step 03
Roughly sketch the figure, paying attention to the pose and proportions.
step 04
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 07
Add details to the desk and objects, such as the papers, glass, and inkwell.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown and gray for the bookshelf and clothing. Use red and yellow ochre to create warm skin tones, and add a touch of blue for cooler shadows.

techniques