plate no. 7770

Portrait of Y.E. Kustodieva with daughter Irina

Boris Kustodiev, 1908

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureinteriormotherchildfurniture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, capturing likeness and emotion, and rendering complex textures with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere within an interior scene.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and major elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figures and furniture.
step 03
Develop the values and tones within each area, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Refine the details of the faces, capturing the likeness and expression of the subjects.
step 05
Add texture and detail to the clothing, furniture, and background using visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Pay attention to the edges of shapes, softening or hardening them as needed to create depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to adjust the overall color harmony and create subtle variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · sap green

Mix various shades of green for the walls by combining yellow ochre, sap green, and ultramarine blue. Achieve the dark tones of the clothing and furniture by mixing ivory black, burnt umber, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use white to lighten these colors and create highlights.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·glazing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations within each area.
→Creating overly harsh or flat lighting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ivory black, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, sap green)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags