plate no. 9431

Portrait of Piotr Zabela

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitmanfaceclothingmustacheoval

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval shape and the basic proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using a thin wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the skin, especially around the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the hair and mustache, using short, broken strokes to create texture.
step 06
Block in the dark clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 07
Add details to the clothing, such as buttons and fur trim.
step 08
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the subject without distracting from it.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black to create shadows and dark areas. Add small amounts of blue or green to darken shadows and create depth.

techniques