plate no. 9938

Russian Fieldmarshal A.V. Suvorov

oilRomanticismportraitportraitfiguremilitarylandscapemaptree

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to create depth and atmosphere in a landscape.

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 of the overall composition, focusing on the figure's proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the sky, background landscape, figure's clothing, and the map.
step 03
Refine the figure's facial features and skin tones, paying close attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Add details to the clothing, including the medals, buttons, and trim.
step 05
Develop the background landscape, creating depth with atmospheric perspective.
step 06
Work on the map, adding details and texture to make it look realistic.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create subtle color variations.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Cadmium red · Yellow ochre · Titanium white

secondary · Burnt umber · Ivory black · Gold

Mix various shades of green for the landscape by combining Prussian blue, yellow ochre, and burnt umber. Achieve skin tones by blending cadmium red, yellow ochre, titanium white, and a touch of burnt umber.

techniques

·Portraiture
·Blending
·Glazing
·Atmospheric perspective
·Rendering of fabrics

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Cadmium red, Yellow ochre, Titanium white, Burnt umber, Ivory black)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags