plate no. 7822

Self Portrait

Alejandro Cabeza, 2016

oil, canvasContemporary Realismself-portraitportraitmanhatglassesclothingself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and conveying a sense of depth.

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, hat, and shoulders using light pencil lines.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of pink, yellow, and brown.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle variations in color and value on the face to create a realistic and three-dimensional effect.
step 05
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, with careful attention to detail.
step 06
Paint the hat and clothing, using similar layering and blending techniques to create depth and texture.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to the glasses to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

secondary · viridian · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use burnt umber and black to create shadows and darker values. Mix viridian with burnt umber to create the greens for the hat and clothing.

techniques