plate no. 2895

Portrait of Mkrtich Khrimyan

Vardges Sureniants, 1906

oil, canvasSymbolismportraitportraitfigureinteriorplantsrugchair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in depicting complex patterns and textures, such as the rug.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and key elements.
step 02
Establish the background tones, paying attention to the subtle color variations in the wall and window.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the robe, hands, and face, using simplified color masses.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Refine the robe, adding folds and highlights to create a sense of volume and texture.
step 06
Paint the rug, simplifying the complex pattern into manageable sections and focusing on color relationships.
step 07
Add details to the chair, plants, and other background elements, maintaining a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values, colors, and details to unify the painting and enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · sap green

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine with white and small amounts of raw umber to create muted tones. Achieve the rug colors by mixing earth tones with small amounts of red, blue, and yellow.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·underpainting
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details of the rug, making it appear too busy.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in an unnatural look.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red light, sap green)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags