plate no. 4863
Portrait of the artist Albert Benois
Nikolai Kuznetsov, 1897
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting helps develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
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 tones with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, focusing on the darks and lights.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including the collar, tie, and jacket.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
- step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the painting and adjust colors.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white
secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten the tones and create highlights. Add small amounts of blue or red to adjust the temperature of the colors.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·blending
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using too much paint and losing the subtle value changes.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the underpainting process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
