plate no. 5546

Portrait of sculptor Vladimir Beklemishev

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfiguremanbeardfaceexpression

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing a likeness with a limited color palette. It's also a good exercise in understanding value relationships to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, beard, and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the overall dark values using a mix of browns and blacks.
step 03
Establish the main light areas on the face and beard with lighter browns and yellows.
step 04
Begin adding texture and detail with short, expressive brushstrokes.
step 05
Focus on capturing the likeness by paying attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the values and colors to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add highlights to the eyes and other key areas to create focal points.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ivory black

Mix various shades of brown by combining umber, ochre, and black. Use white to lighten the browns for highlights. Add small amounts of red for warmth.

techniques