plate no. 2692

Portrait of the Artist Mikhail Peskov

oilRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in blending and creating soft edges.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, focusing on subtle value transitions.
step 04
Define the features of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the hair and clothing, using a variety of brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
step 07
Add highlights and final touches to enhance the overall effect.
step 08
Glaze to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · viridian · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt sienna, and small amounts of yellow ochre and alizarin crimson. Use ivory black and raw umber for shadows and clothing. Viridian is used for the green jacket.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·value studies
·blending
·glazing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early
→Incorrect proportions of the face
→Muddy skin tones
→Harsh edges

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, viridian, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife