plate no. 1141

Portrait of Sylvester Golubovsky

Oleksa Novakivskyi, 1933

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurelandscaperiverskybeard

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as landscape painting with expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Start building up the values in the face, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the beard and hair, using small, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Work on the landscape background, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and depth.
step 06
Refine the details of the clothing and hands.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Check the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · alizarin crimson · viridian

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Achieve the river's blue by mixing ultramarine with white and a touch of viridian. Use black and white to create the various shades of grey for the clothing.

techniques