plate no. 9907
Portrait of the Commander of the Dragoon Regiment P. A. Chicherin
Alexey Venetsianov, 1810
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and details like the epaulettes and decorations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the background with soft, blended pastel strokes.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones, focusing on the light and shadow areas.
- step 04
Develop the features of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Define the clothing and uniform, including the collar, epaulettes, and decorations.
- step 06
Refine the hair, adding details and texture.
- step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and details.
color palette
primary · flesh tones (various shades of pink, peach, and cream) · Prussian blue · Cadmium red
secondary · Ivory black · Yellow ochre · Burnt umber
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow, and a touch of blue or brown. Use Prussian blue and black for the uniform, adding white for highlights. Mix red with a touch of yellow and brown for the red accents.
techniques
- ·pastel blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·portraiture
- ·rendering fabric
common pitfalls
- →Overblending, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Incorrect proportions, leading to a distorted likeness.
- →Neglecting the background, making the figure appear isolated.
- →Using too much pressure, making the pastel difficult to blend.
- →Lack of attention to details in the uniform and decorations.
materials
surface · Pastel paper (toned)
required
- ·Pastel set (soft pastels)
- ·Pastel paper (toned)
- ·Blending stumps
- ·Kneaded eraser
- ·Fixative spray
- ·Pencil
- ·Ruler
- ·Workable fixative
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Easel
- ·Reference photo print
Choose a pastel paper with a slightly rough texture to hold the pastel pigment. A toned paper will help with establishing values.
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