plate no. 0726

Selbstbildnis vor Garten

Cuno Amiet, 1921

oilFauvismself-portraitportraitfiguregardenfoliageskyself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and expressive brushwork to create form and texture. It also encourages experimentation with non-traditional color choices in portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and background using thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering thicker paint, focusing on capturing the planes of the face with distinct color variations.
step 04
Use short, directional brushstrokes to build up texture and form in the face and beard.
step 05
Add details to the background foliage and sky, maintaining the loose, expressive brushwork.
step 06
Refine the highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the portrait.
step 07
Add final touches and details to the clothing and any other elements.
step 08
Step back and assess the overall balance of color and composition, making any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · viridian green · purple · raw umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white, adjusting proportions for highlights and shadows. Mix greens by combining ultramarine blue and yellow ochre or viridian green. Create purples by mixing cadmium red and ultramarine blue.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·alla prima
·color layering

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, which can result in a muddy appearance.
→Failing to capture the underlying structure of the face.
→Using too much detail, which can detract from the expressive brushwork.
→Ignoring the color variations within the shadows and highlights.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green, purple, raw umber)
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Rags