plate no. 8062

Autoritratto

Renato Guttuso, 1940

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitmanfaceself-portraitclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and using brushstrokes to define form and texture. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying emotion through facial expression.

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 facial features.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar neutral tone.
step 03
Block in the background color, blending it smoothly.
step 04
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the face, using small brushstrokes to blend and soften edges.
step 06
Define the features (eyes, nose, mouth) with darker values and sharper edges.
step 07
Paint the hair and clothing, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to refine the portrait and capture the likeness.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by combining yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Add small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and ultramarine blue for cool shadows. Use ivory black to darken values and create shadows.

techniques