plate no. 4042

Portrait of Z. I. Grzhebin

Jury Annenkov, 1919

oilExpressionismportraitportraitmanglassesbooksuitcubism

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and understanding how to break down complex forms into simpler geometric shapes. It also provides practice in applying visible brushstrokes to create texture and form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes of the head, shoulders, and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, suit, and background using simplified geometric shapes.
step 03
Start refining the skin tones by mixing and applying a range of light and dark values.
step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 05
Paint the suit and tie, using darker values to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Refine the background by adding more geometric shapes and subtle color variations.
step 07
Add the glasses and book, paying attention to their shapes and details.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black · viridian

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Vary the proportions to create different values and hues. Mix blue and umber for the suit.

techniques

·broken color
·geometric abstraction
·visible brushstrokes
·color temperature variation
·layering

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, losing the geometric structure.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Not creating enough contrast in the skin tones.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the background.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·acrylic or oil paints
·round brushes (various sizes)
·flat brushes (various sizes)
·palette
·palette knife
·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
·mineral spirits or turpentine (for cleaning brushes)

optional

·painting medium
·easel
·apron
·rags

Use a medium-textured canvas to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Acrylics are more beginner-friendly, while oils offer richer colors and blending capabilities.

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