plate no. 8529

Portrait of prof. Ivan Shishmanov

Ivan Mrkviсka, 1901

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanbooksclothingwriting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness, rendering skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through value and color variations. It also provides practice in painting realistic textures and details, such as clothing and books.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and books.
step 02
Establish the background using a dark, muted color palette.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, hair, and hands, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Paint the books in the background, simplifying the details and focusing on their overall shape and value.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to refine the overall composition and create a cohesive image.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue. Use raw umber and ivory black for dark areas, lightening with white for highlights. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt sienna for the dark clothing.

techniques