plate no. 5185

Selbstbildnis des Achtzehnjährigen

oilRealismself-portraitportraitfigureself-portraitmaleclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle color mixing for skin tones. It also provides practice in rendering form through light and shadow.

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 shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin, even wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, focusing on the overall form.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by layering and blending colors, paying attention to subtle variations.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Paint the hair, using short, directional strokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Render the clothing, simplifying the details and focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red and blue for subtle variations. Use ivory black and raw umber to create the darks in the clothing and hair.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·value study
·blending
·layering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Using colors that are too saturated, making the portrait look unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and color that create form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, raw umber, burnt sienna, ivory black, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife