plate no. 3591

Autoritratto

Leonor Fini, 1968

oilMagic Realismself-portraitportraitwomanhatfiguredressself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a mood through pose and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and hat onto the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a solid layer of blue.
step 03
Establish the main values of the face, using a limited palette of white, blue, and a touch of red.
step 04
Paint the orange hat, focusing on capturing the texture with short, broken brushstrokes.
step 05
Develop the details of the dress, using a combination of thin washes and thicker paint to create the pattern.
step 06
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · cadmium orange · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue for the background and skin tones. Create the orange hat color by mixing cadmium orange with a touch of yellow ochre. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques