plate no. 3824

Portrait of Pavel Tretyakov

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanbeardclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness, rendering skin tones, and creating depth through subtle value changes. Students will also learn to manage a limited color palette effectively.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the head and shoulders, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and clothing with a thin wash of dark color.
step 03
Block in the general skin tones, focusing on the highlights and shadows on the face.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the beard, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 06
Refine the clothing and collar, adding subtle details and shadows.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face and beard to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones by blending white, raw sienna, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Use ivory black and burnt umber for dark areas, and add white to create lighter shades.

techniques