plate no. 1716

Portrait of N. P. Zhdanovich as a Child

watercolor, cardboardRealismportraitfigureportraitdresshairchildhands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in subtle color mixing and creating soft, diffused lighting.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, focusing on proportions and pose.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted yellow and brown tones.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the dress with a diluted red, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Begin layering the dress with progressively darker shades of red to create depth and form.
step 05
Paint the skin tones using a mix of white, red, yellow, and a touch of blue, building up the values gradually.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using a fine brush to create individual strands and curls.
step 07
Refine the features of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final details such as the folds in the fabric and the texture of the paper in the hands.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

Mix reds with white for highlights on the dress, and add burnt umber or ultramarine blue to create shadows. Skin tones require careful mixing of white, red, yellow, and a touch of blue to achieve a natural look.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·dry brushing
·glazing
·portraiture
·figure drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too saturated, resulting in an unnatural look.
→Failing to establish a clear light source, leading to flat and lifeless forms.
→Getting the proportions wrong, resulting in an inaccurate likeness.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·watercolor paper (140lb)
·palette
·water container
·pencil
·eraser
·masking tape

optional

·palette knife
·kneaded eraser
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure smooth washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.

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