plate no. 4817
Portrait of Mikhail Yevgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin
Mykola Yaroshenko, 1886
some experience helpful
This painting provides practice in portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. Students will develop skills in layering paint and creating soft transitions between values.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the background, clothing, and skin tones.
- step 04
Begin layering paint to refine the shapes and values, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add texture to the beard and hair using dry brush techniques.
- step 07
Refine the details of the clothing and chair.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black
Skin tones are achieved by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of ultramarine blue and ivory black for shadows. The clothing is a mix of ultramarine blue and ivory black, lightened with titanium white.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·dry brushing
- ·value studies
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium such as linseed oil can be used to thin the paint and improve flow.
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