plate no. 7690

Portrait of a man (Self-portrait)

oilAcademicismself-portraitportraitmanself-portraitfigurehairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in portrait proportions, skin tone mixing, and rendering soft light and shadow. It's a good exercise in capturing a likeness and creating a sense of depth through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, mixing a range of values from light to dark.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the face, especially around the cheeks, nose, and eyes.
step 05
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with careful attention to detail.
step 06
Paint the hair, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Add the clothing, using darker values to create contrast with the face.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values as needed to create a realistic and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, umber, sienna, and small amounts of red and yellow. Use black sparingly to darken values. Mix a range of values for smooth transitions.

techniques