plate no. 5961

Valkyrie

Konstantin Vasilyev, 1969

oilSymbolismmythological paintingfigureportraitmythologyarmorspearhair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and flowing hair, as well as understanding how to create depth and form using subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, helmet, spear, and shield.
step 02
Block in the background with a muted green-gray color, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Establish the base skin tone and begin layering highlights and shadows to define the facial features.
step 04
Paint the hair in layers, starting with a base color of yellow ochre and adding highlights with lighter yellows and shadows with browns.
step 05
Render the helmet and armor, paying attention to the metallic sheen and reflections.
step 06
Paint the spear, including the shaft, spearhead, and decorative elements.
step 07
Add details to the shield, such as the rivets and texture.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light · raw sienna

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, and yellow ochre, adding small amounts of umber for shadows. Achieve the hair color by mixing yellow ochre with white for highlights and burnt umber for shadows. The background is a mix of black, white, and a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·blending
·layering
·rendering metal

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Not paying attention to the direction of the light source.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber, ivory black, ultramarine blue, cadmium red light, raw sienna)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags