plate no. 9147

Portrait of Pyotr I. Ivelich

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremilitaryclothinggolduniform

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering skin tones, and depicting textures of fabric and embellishments. It will also improve their understanding of light and shadow to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the head, shoulders, and overall pose.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted colors, focusing on the light source.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and clothing, using a limited palette.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 05
Add details to the uniform, including the gold embellishments, medals, and fabric folds.
step 06
Develop the hair texture with short, controlled brushstrokes, varying the tones to create depth.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · titanium white

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white, adding small amounts of red for warmth and blue for shadows. Create the gold tones by mixing yellow ochre with burnt sienna and a touch of black for shading.

techniques