plate no. 1548
Autoritratto
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice capturing likeness with simplified forms and expressive brushstrokes. It will also improve their understanding of value and color temperature in portraiture.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 6 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and facial features.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
- step 03
Build up the darker values, paying attention to the planes of the face.
- step 04
Add highlights to the forehead, nose, and cheeks to create form.
- step 05
Define the eyes, mouth, and other details with small, deliberate brushstrokes.
- step 06
Refine the background with loose, expressive strokes of blue and white.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast as needed.
- step 08
Add final details and signature.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · raw sienna · cadmium red light
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red to warm up the skin tones.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·limited palette
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Making the skin tones too uniform and flat.
- →Not paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·painting medium
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 12x16 inches) to allow for expressive brushstrokes. A limited palette will help to create a harmonious color scheme.
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