plate no. 5514

Portrait of the Author Alexey Pisemsky

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingbeardwalking stick

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding light and shadow to create depth and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, focusing on the subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Render the hair and beard, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Paint the background with soft, blended colors.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of blue or red to adjust the temperature of the skin tones.

techniques