plate no. 3978

Richard Emil Miller

Andrey Allakhverdov, 2017

oilExpressionismportraitportraitfigureflowersinteriorwindowartist

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and depicting clothing folds, and in rendering complex scenes with multiple subjects and light sources. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve nuanced skin tones and fabric colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main figures and objects, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the major color areas with thin washes, establishing the overall color scheme.
step 03
Develop the background elements, such as the window and curtains, using loose brushstrokes.
step 04
Begin building up the forms of the figures, paying attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subjects.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and accessories, such as the kimono and flowers.
step 07
Introduce highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium red · Titanium white

secondary · Yellow ochre · Alizarin crimson · Viridian

Mix various shades of blue and green for the artist's clothing. Use red and white to create the pinkish skin tones, adding touches of yellow ochre for warmth. Mix red with a touch of blue to create the darker shades in the background.

techniques