plate no. 2527

Portrait of Sofia Tutcheva

Mikhaïl Nesterov, 1927

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurechairflowerslandscapeinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in landscape painting.

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 the placement of the figure, chairs, and landscape elements.
step 02
Establish the main color blocks for the background, including the sky, trees, and distant buildings.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
step 04
Begin refining the details of the face, focusing on accurate placement of features and subtle value changes.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, capturing the folds and textures.
step 06
Paint the chairs, using varying shades of green and capturing the wicker texture.
step 07
Add the flowers and vase, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 08
Refine the details and add final touches, such as highlights and shadows.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · burnt umber

Mix greens by combining ultramarine blue and yellow ochre. Achieve skin tones by blending alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use burnt umber to create shadows and depth.

techniques

·portraiture
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the figure.
→Overly smooth blending, losing the texture of the brushstrokes.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, titanium white, viridian green, burnt umber)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·rags