plate no. 1876
Portrait of the Painter Nikolai Kasatkin
Vasily Perov, 1876
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value gradations to create form. It also provides practice in blending and layering paint to achieve realistic skin tones.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
- step 03
Begin layering in skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
- step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the face, especially around the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Paint the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to indicate the flow of the hair.
- step 06
Add the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows to create depth.
- step 07
Refine the background, blending the colors to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to bring the portrait to life.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna · yellow ochre
secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light
Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use varying ratios to achieve different shades and hues. Darken shadows with burnt umber and black, and lighten highlights with white and yellow ochre.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·value study
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the face.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth and form.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas (12x16 or 16x20)
- ·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, raw sienna, yellow ochre, ivory black, cadmium red light)
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
- ·palette knife
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grit canvas will provide a good surface for layering paint.
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