plate no. 3592

Auto-Retrato

Candido Portinari, 1957

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitself-portraitfigurebrushesglassesbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and understanding how to build form with visible strokes. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and capturing a likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin adding layers of short, directional brushstrokes to define the form of the face and clothing.
step 04
Pay close attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to convey the contours of the face and the folds of the shirt.
step 05
Mix subtle variations of skin tones and apply them with small, deliberate strokes.
step 06
Add details such as the glasses, eyes, and hair, using finer brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the background colors and shapes, maintaining the overall simplicity of the composition.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cerulean blue

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian green

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red light to add warmth. Achieve the background colors by mixing cerulean blue with white and small amounts of yellow ochre or green.

techniques