plate no. 2442

Portrait of the collector Alexander Petrovich Russov

Nikolai Kuznetsov, 1900

oilRealismportraitportraitmanchairclothingfacial hairhand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness, rendering realistic skin tones, and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in depicting textures of fabric and hair.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors using thin washes of paint.
step 03
Develop the background with subtle variations in tone.
step 04
Begin building up the layers of paint on the face, focusing on accurate skin tones and highlights.
step 05
Refine the details of the clothing, chair, and hands.
step 06
Add details to the hair and beard, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Pay attention to the lighting and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and realistic result.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · sap green · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Achieve skin tones by mixing cadmium red, yellow ochre, and titanium white, with small amounts of burnt umber and ultramarine blue for shadows. Darken colors with ivory black and lighten with titanium white.

techniques