plate no. 6097

Portrait of N.A.Demidov

oil, canvasRococoportraitportraitfiguremanclothingrococohistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting provides practice in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also allows for exploration of fabric textures and details in clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, clothing, and hair.
step 04
Develop the skin tones using layers of color and subtle blending.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Render the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 07
Paint the details of the jacket and lace collar.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding highlights.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. The blue jacket is a mix of ultramarine blue and black, lightened with white for highlights. The background is a mix of umber and black.

techniques