plate no. 2587

Self-Portrait

oil, woodNeoclassicismself-portraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and capturing likeness, as well as practice blending and layering techniques to create realistic skin tones and fabric textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark, neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and scarf, focusing on accurate values.
step 04
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and form.
step 06
Refine the clothing and scarf, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced and harmonious.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Achieve the reddish-brown of the coat by mixing red and umber. Use black and umber for the dark areas of the hair and clothing.

techniques