plate no. 0684
Portrait of the Artist Monastyrsky
Margit Selska, 1960
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones, and capturing the texture of clothing with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, clothing, background, and chair.
- step 03
Start refining the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 05
Work on the background, creating depth with subtle color variations.
- step 06
Add details like the glasses, beard, and tie.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · olive green · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix different shades of green by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and burnt umber. Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, cadmium red, and titanium white, adjusting proportions for highlights and shadows.
techniques
- ·color mixing
- ·portraiture
- ·blocking in
- ·visible brushstrokes
- ·layering
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background.
- →Using too much detail too early in the process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·odorless mineral spirits (for cleaning oil brushes)
A medium-sized canvas (16x20 or 18x24) is recommended for this project. Use good quality paints for best results.
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