plate no. 5466
Selbst
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and understanding how to use brushstrokes to define form and texture. It's a good exercise in simplifying complex forms into planes of color.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of orange paint.
- step 03
Establish the main shadow shapes on the face with darker reds and browns.
- step 04
Begin layering lighter pinks and grays on the face to define the highlights.
- step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle color variations.
- step 06
Paint the hair using short, choppy brushstrokes of black, gray, and white.
- step 07
Define the shirt with gray and white, adding a touch of blue for the collar.
- step 08
Refine edges and add final details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white · yellow ochre
secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black
Mix various shades of red, brown, and pink for the skin tones. Use white to lighten the colors and blue to create cooler tones. The background is primarily yellow ochre with touches of burnt umber.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·color mixing
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Making the brushstrokes too uniform.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints (burnt umber, cadmium red, titanium white, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (flat and round)
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-grit canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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