plate no. 1985

Outcast (Self-Portrait)

Georgi Mashev, 1921

oilSymbolismself-portraitfigureportraiteyesarmsdarkself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing emotion through facial expression and using a limited palette to create a moody atmosphere. It also provides practice in rendering form with light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the eyes, arms, and overall proportions.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the painting with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar dark brown.
step 03
Block in the mid-tones on the face and arms using a mix of raw umber, ochre, and white.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shape and expression of the eyes.
step 05
Add highlights to the face and arms, using a lighter mix of ochre and white.
step 06
Develop the background and clothing with darker tones, using visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the details and edges, softening some areas and sharpening others to create depth.
step 08
Add final glazes to unify the colors and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, raw umber, and white in varying proportions. Use small amounts of red and blue to adjust the warmth and coolness of the skin tones. The dark areas are primarily burnt umber with touches of blue.

techniques