plate no. 4505
Portrait of the sculptor L.V. Posen
Mykola Yaroshenko, 1885
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures and folds in clothing.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a thin wash of burnt umber.
- step 03
Begin blocking in the skin tones, mixing colors to match the values and hues in the reference image.
- step 04
Develop the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights.
- step 06
Add details to the hands and the object being sculpted.
- step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and texture.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
color palette
primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · viridian
Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use viridian and burnt umber to create the dark greens of the sculpture.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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