plate no. 1056
Portrait of the Author Vladimir Korolemko
Ilya Repin, 1912
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in depicting clothing folds and creating depth through value and color variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hands.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, beard, clothing, and hands, paying attention to the overall value structure.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
- step 05
Develop the details of the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to the clothing to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Refine the hands, paying attention to the details of the knuckles and fingers.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna
Mix various shades of skin tones by combining titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Use ivory black and ultramarine blue for the darks in the clothing, and add white to create lighter shades.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·alla prima
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.
- →Overworking the details, resulting in a stiff and unnatural portrait.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·mahl stick
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to make it easier to establish the value structure.
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