plate no. 2790

Portrait of Rakhil Semenovna Isakovich

oilRealismportraitportraitwomanclothinghatfigureface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures, such as fabric and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hat.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, loose strokes, using a limited palette of browns and grays.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Refine the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using smaller brushes and more precise strokes.
step 05
Paint the clothing and hat, focusing on the textures and folds of the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the hair, creating a sense of volume and movement.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and titanium white. Use burnt umber and ivory black for shadows and dark areas. Add small amounts of ultramarine blue to darken shadows.

techniques