plate no. 6732

Portrait of O.I. Rybakova in childhood

Zinaida Serebriakova, 1923

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguregirlclothinghairindoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused lighting and subtle color variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, clothing, background, and hair.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Refine the features of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Work on the clothing, capturing the folds and highlights with soft brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the background, using loose strokes to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add details such as the hair, the bow, and the embroidered flower on the dress.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a harmonious and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

secondary · alizarin crimson · raw umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt sienna and alizarin crimson. Use ultramarine blue and raw umber to create the darker background tones. Mix white with small amounts of other colors to create highlights.

techniques