plate no. 1159

Selbstbildnis

Arthur Segal, 1908

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitportraitmanbeardfaceclothingself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and understanding light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, beard, clothing, and background.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the face, using darker tones for shadows and lighter tones for highlights.
step 04
Refine the shapes of the facial features, paying attention to the angles and curves.
step 05
Add details to the hair, beard, and clothing, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 06
Mix and apply subtle color variations to the skin tones to create a more naturalistic effect.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · ivory black

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use blue and black to create darker shades. Green and black for background.

techniques