plate no. 2043

Man's Head, Self Portrait

Lucian Freud, 1963

oil, canvasExpressionismself-portraitportraitself-portraitfigurefacehandmale

some experience helpful

This painting offers practice in capturing realistic skin tones and depicting light and shadow with visible brushstrokes. Students will learn to simplify complex forms into planes of color.

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 and hand.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin to refine the shapes and values, paying attention to the planes of the face.
step 04
Add the darkest shadows and lightest highlights to create contrast.
step 05
Develop the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Refine the edges and blend where necessary, but maintain visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the background color to complement the portrait.
step 08
Add final details and highlights.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium orange · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and white. Use small amounts of orange and blue to adjust the temperature of the skin tones.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·value study
·observational drawing

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Failing to capture the light and shadow accurately.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints: raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, cadmium orange, ultramarine blue
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Assorted hog bristle brushes (flat and round)
·Rags