plate no. 4683

Self-Portrait at the Age of Nine

Arshile Gorky, 1928

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureboyfaceclothingself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing likeness through expressive brushstrokes. It also encourages observation of subtle value changes to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, loose strokes of ochre and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with light washes of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, using a mix of reds, yellows, and browns.
step 05
Define the features (eyes, nose, mouth) with darker values and careful attention to shape.
step 06
Paint the clothing with dark, muted colors, using thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to capture the likeness of the subject.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw umber

Achieve skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and ultramarine blue to cool down the tones. Mix raw umber and ivory black for the dark clothing.

techniques