plate no. 5200

Razin

Vasily Surikov, 1909

oil, canvasRealismportraitportraitmanhatfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in using 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
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, hat, and hand.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using a variety of pinks, reds, yellows, and browns.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle shifts in color and value on the face.
step 05
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with careful brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the hat and clothing, using darker values to create depth.
step 07
Refine the overall composition and adjust the values as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix various combinations of white, red, yellow, and brown to achieve the subtle skin tones. Use black and umber for the dark areas of the hat and clothing. A touch of blue can cool down skin tones.

techniques