plate no. 0068
Portrait of S. S. Krylov
Pavel Fedotov, 1851
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in painting detailed clothing and accessories.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
- step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted color.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and clothing using broad strokes.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the uniform, including the buttons, epaulettes, and trim.
- step 06
Blend the edges of the shapes to create a smooth transition between colors.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Apply final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · gold
Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and titanium white. Darken the skin tones with small amounts of ivory black or burnt umber. Mix the gold details with yellow ochre and a touch of cadmium red.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·value studies
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details before establishing the overall values.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas can help establish the dark background more easily.
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