plate no. 9781

Portrait of Nikolay Radlov

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanheadhairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in capturing likeness, understanding value relationships, and using charcoal to create form and texture. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex shapes and focusing on essential details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall proportions and pose of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with broad charcoal strokes.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the angles and shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Build up darker values in the shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Soften edges and blend areas to create smooth transitions.
step 06
Add details such as hair texture and clothing folds.
step 07
Use an eraser to lift out highlights and correct mistakes.
step 08
Finalize the drawing by adjusting values and adding subtle details.

color palette

primary · charcoal gray · white

secondary ·

This drawing primarily uses variations of charcoal gray, achieved by controlling the pressure and layering of charcoal. White is the paper itself, revealed by erasing charcoal.

techniques