plate no. 5856

Self-portrait

Aleksandr Deyneka, 1916

watercolorRealismself-portraitportraitfigureself-portraitfaceheadperson

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand value relationships and how to use hatching and cross-hatching to create form. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expressing mood through tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and facial features.
step 02
Establish the line of shadow dividing the face and the overall composition.
step 03
Begin applying the darkest values in the shadowed areas using hatching and cross-hatching.
step 04
Gradually build up the mid-tones, paying attention to the contours of the face.
step 05
Use lighter washes and finer lines to define the features on the lit side of the face.
step 06
Add details to the hair and clothing, maintaining the overall tonal balance.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, ensuring a cohesive and expressive portrait.
step 08
Add final touches to enhance the contrast and depth.

color palette

primary · payne's gray · ivory black

secondary · sepia · raw umber

Mix Payne's Gray with varying amounts of water to achieve different values. Use Sepia or Raw Umber sparingly to add warmth to the shadows.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·dry brush
·value gradation
·watercolor wash

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the spontaneity of the sketch.
→Creating muddy or flat shadows by not layering values effectively.
→Ignoring the underlying structure of the face and distorting the proportions.
→Failing to establish a clear light source and consistent value range.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper (140lb cold press)
·Payne's Gray watercolor paint
·Ivory Black watercolor paint
·Round watercolor brush (size 4-6)
·Round watercolor brush (size 0-2)
·Water container
·Palette
·Pencil (HB)

optional

·Sepia watercolor paint
·Raw Umber watercolor paint
·Kneaded eraser
·Masking tape

Use a good quality watercolor paper that can handle multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying line weights and textures.

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