plate no. 3635

Portrait of the Playwright Alexander Ostrovsky

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitfiguremanclothingfur collarbeard

some experience helpful

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 fabric and fur.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and colors of the background, clothing, and skin tones.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Render the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows to create a sense of volume.
step 06
Paint the fur collar, using short, broken brushstrokes to simulate the texture of fur.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · viridian · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, burnt sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow ochre. Use ivory black and raw umber for shadows. Mix viridian with black and umber for the green clothing.

techniques

·portraiture
·value studies
·color mixing
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a flat or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Not paying attention to the overall composition.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, viridian, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·palette
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife