plate no. 2400

Self-portrait

Alessandro Zezzos, 1907

watercolor, pastel, paperRealismself-portraitportraitmanhatbeardclothingfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using subtle value changes and brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of key features.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, loose washes of color.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hat, and clothing with mid-tones.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the beard and hair, using short, textured brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white · sap green

Mix raw umber and ivory black for the dark tones, and add white to create lighter shades. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to warm up the skin tones. Mix sap green with raw umber for the background.

techniques