plate no. 7312

Portrait of Nikolai M. Borozdin

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryuniformgoldmedals

experienced study

Recreating this portrait would help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering skin tones, and depicting complex textures like fabric and metal. It also offers practice in capturing likeness and conveying character through facial expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a warm brown underpainting.
step 02
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, background, uniform, and gold details.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to light and shadow to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the uniform, including the folds, buttons, and medals.
step 06
Add highlights to the gold details to create a sense of shine and texture.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, with small amounts of cadmium red for warmth. The uniform is a mix of ivory black and ultramarine blue. Gold is achieved by layering raw sienna, yellow ochre, and touches of cadmium red, highlighted with titanium white.

techniques

·portraiture
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro
·rendering metal

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions can ruin the likeness.
→Overworking the details can make the painting look stiff.
→Incorrect color mixing can result in unnatural skin tones.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value can flatten the form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Rags