plate no. 7248

Portrait of Nadezhda P. Zhdanovich at the Piano

oil, canvasRealismportraitfigurepianodresschairmusicportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict fabric and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, piano, and chair.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted yellow and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the figure's dress, skin, and hair.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the piano, including the wood grain and keys.
step 06
Add the shadows and highlights to the dress, creating a sense of volume.
step 07
Refine the details of the chair and the music book on the piano.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to bring the painting to life.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of skin tones using white, raw umber, a touch of red, and a hint of blue. Create the dress colors by mixing white with varying amounts of ultramarine blue and raw umber.

techniques