plate no. 9878

Portrait of the painter Burdanov

Oleksandr Bogomazov, 1912

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurechairbookinteriorclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing the likeness of a subject and understanding composition in a confined space.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and book.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: the blue shirt, black trousers, green book, and background.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using a mix of warm and cool colors to create depth.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add texture to the shirt and background with short, visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Define the shapes of the chair and book with darker values.
step 07
Add highlights to the figure and book to create a sense of light.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · cadmium yellow · cadmium red

Mix various shades of blue with white and black for the shirt. Use burnt umber, white, and small amounts of red and yellow for skin tones. Mix green with blue and yellow for the book.

techniques