plate no. 2429

Selbstbildnis im Atelier

Cuno Amiet, 1920

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitself-portraitfiguremanstudiobackgroundindoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and capturing likeness through expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

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, shoulders, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying thin washes of color to the canvas.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint, focusing on the areas of light and shadow.
step 04
Mix colors directly on the canvas to achieve the desired hues and values.
step 05
Use short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 06
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · viridian green · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · cadmium yellow

Achieve skin tones by mixing alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use viridian green and ultramarine blue for cooler shadows. Mix burnt umber and alizarin crimson for the darker areas of the hair and beard.

techniques