plate no. 5445

Self-portrait at the easel

oil, canvasMannerism (Late Renaissance)self-portraitself-portraitfigurepaintingartistpaletteclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle value gradations for skin tones, and rendering clothing folds. It also provides practice in painting a painting within a painting, requiring careful observation of color and detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 30 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the proportions of the figure and the placement of the easel and painting.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the background, the skin tones, the clothing, and the painting on the easel.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, using subtle value changes to create form and dimension.
step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to their shapes and placement.
step 05
Work on the clothing, rendering the folds and shadows to create a sense of depth.
step 06
Paint the painting on the easel, carefully observing the colors and details of the original artwork.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the lace collar, the brushes, and the palette.
step 08
Make any necessary adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and raw umber for dark clothing and shadows. Mix ultramarine blue and white for the cooler tones in the painting on the easel.

techniques