plate no. 1378

Self-portrait

oilRealismself-portraitportraitfigureboyclothingfaceself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating subtle value shifts to model form. It also provides practice in achieving a muted color palette and loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark green and brown, allowing some variation in tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face with a mid-tone flesh color, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Refine the facial features, gradually adding darker values for shadows and lighter values for highlights.
step 05
Paint the clothing with broad strokes of dark colors, suggesting the folds and texture of the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the hair, using small, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Soften edges and blend colors where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing to complete the portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix various shades of flesh tones using white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, and a touch of burnt umber. Darken colors with ivory black and burnt umber. Use viridian to create the green background.

techniques