plate no. 9478
Sergey Mordvinov
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering clothing folds. It also provides practice in blending colors to create subtle tonal variations.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and furniture.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas: background, skin tones, clothing, and table.
- step 03
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, including the folds and textures of the fabric and fur.
- step 05
Add details to the table and book, focusing on light and shadow.
- step 06
Paint the scarf, capturing the pattern and drape.
- step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · red ochre · raw umber · titanium white · viridian
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · ivory black
Mix skin tones using white, red ochre, and a touch of raw umber. Achieve the green clothing by mixing viridian with yellow ochre and white. Use raw umber and ivory black for the fur.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones.
- →Failing to capture the texture of the fur.
- →Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and color.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·rags
- ·mahl stick
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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