plate no. 1769

Henry Moore

oilRealismself-portraitportraitfiguremanhatself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in limited palette painting and expressive brushwork to capture form and mood. It's also a good exercise in understanding values and how they define shape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a mid-tone brown or gray.
step 02
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and shoulders using charcoal or a thinned-down wash of burnt umber.
step 03
Block in the darkest areas of the painting, focusing on the hat and background, using a mix of black and burnt umber.
step 04
Begin to build up the mid-tones on the face and neck, using a mix of burnt umber, raw sienna, and a touch of white.
step 05
Add highlights to the face and hands, focusing on the areas where light is hitting the subject.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Use expressive brushstrokes to create texture and movement in the painting.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · ivory black · raw sienna

secondary · titanium white · ultramarine blue (optional)

Mix burnt umber and black for the dark areas. Use raw sienna and white for highlights. A touch of ultramarine can be added to the darks to deepen them.

techniques