plate no. 7572

Vasily Dimitiyevich Ilovaysky, Russian Lieutenant General

oilNeoclassicismportraitportraitfiguremilitary uniformmanclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering textures of fabric and embellishments. Students will also practice color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and subtle variations in light and shadow.

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 and uniform.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of blue.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, and uniform.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Develop the details of the uniform, including the medals and embellishments.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Titanium white · Burnt umber · Cadmium red

secondary · Yellow ochre · Ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, umber, ochre, and a touch of red. Achieve the uniform's dark blue by mixing Prussian blue and black. Use white to lighten colors for highlights.

techniques

·Portraiture
·Blending
·Layering
·Scumbling
·Glazing

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too saturated or unnatural.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and dimension.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Titanium white, Burnt umber, Cadmium red, Yellow ochre, Ivory black)
·Assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags