plate no. 9737

Autoportrait

Henri Manguin, 1905

oilFauvismself-portraitportraitmanhatbeardfigureclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to use broken color and visible brushstrokes to create form and capture light. It also provides practice in portraiture and color mixing for skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, focusing on the overall color temperature.
step 03
Start building up layers of paint, using broken color to create depth and texture.
step 04
Pay attention to the transitions between light and shadow, using subtle color variations.
step 05
Define the features of the face, using small, deliberate brushstrokes.
step 06
Add details to the hat and clothing, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the background, using loose, expressive brushwork.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of realism.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · purple

Mix skin tones using a base of yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white, adding small amounts of red and blue to adjust the color temperature. Create shadows by adding more burnt umber and blue. Mix greens by combining blue and yellow.

techniques

·broken color
·alla prima
·scumbling
·color temperature
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the correct proportions of the figure.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Using too much detail in the background, distracting from the main subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits
·rags