plate no. 9318

Portrait of Morkov

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguresclothinghairfaces

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations to create realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and conveying mood through facial expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figures and their features.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin, neutral tone.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the faces, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Gradually build up the skin tones with thin layers of paint, blending carefully to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 06
Refine the facial features, adding details such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · Prussian blue

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, with small amounts of raw umber for shadows. Use ivory black and Prussian blue to create the dark tones for the clothing and background.

techniques