plate no. 2379

Portrait of the Artist K.D. Flavitsky

oilAcademicismportraitportraitfiguremanbeardclothingdark background

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in realistic skin tone rendering, capturing subtle variations in light and shadow, and creating depth through layering and blending.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on accurate placement of facial features.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark background and the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the beard and hair, paying attention to the direction of hair growth and the subtle variations in color.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the background, ensuring it remains secondary to the figure.
step 07
Glaze to unify the painting and adjust values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the portrait to life.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for shadows. Mix burnt sienna and yellow ochre for the beard.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in value and color.
→Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions.
→Ignoring the direction of light and shadow.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints: raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette knife
·rags