plate no. 9965

08. Self Portrait 2017 by Anthony D. Padgett After Van Gogh Paris 1887

Anthony Padgett, 2017

oilPost-Impressionismsymbolic paintingportraitfiguremanfacehairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portrait proportions and learn to simplify forms using bold brushstrokes. It also encourages experimentation with color temperature to create depth and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions of the face and body.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and background.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Add shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension in the face.
step 05
Develop the background with directional brushstrokes of dark blue and red.
step 06
Define the clothing with simple shapes and contrasting values.
step 07
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.
step 08
Allow to dry and apply a varnish for protection.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix white with raw umber and yellow ochre to create various skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create dark neutrals for the background and clothing. Mix cadmium red with a touch of raw umber for the background accents.

techniques

·blocking in
·directional brushstrokes
·color mixing
·simplifying forms
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details
→Getting the proportions wrong
→Using too much paint
→Not blending colors sufficiently
→Ignoring the directional brushstrokes

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, yellow ochre, burnt sienna)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (flat and round)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·rags