plate no. 7551

Tsar Nicholas II

Boris Kustodiev, 1915

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfigurebuildingskyuniformhistorical

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering details in clothing and background architecture. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the background elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the skin tones and the red of the uniform.
step 03
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Add details to the uniform, including the medals, ribbons, and gold trim.
step 05
Start working on the background, painting the buildings and sky with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details and add finishing touches.
step 08
Varnish the painting to protect it and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · red · flesh tones · blue · gold

secondary · white · grey · brown · green

Achieve realistic skin tones by mixing red, yellow, and blue with white. Create variations in the red uniform by adding small amounts of brown or black. Mix blues and whites for the sky and sash.

techniques