plate no. 3881
Self-Portrait
Antonio Donghi, 1942
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including proportion, capturing likeness, and subtle value transitions. It also provides practice in rendering clothing and simple backgrounds.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and background.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, background, and hair.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying close attention to subtle value changes to create form.
- step 04
Develop the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on accurate placement and shape.
- step 05
Work on the clothing, rendering the folds and textures with careful attention to light and shadow.
- step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
- step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of realism.
- step 08
Step back and make any necessary adjustments to proportions, values, and details.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · ivory black · burnt sienna
Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, raw umber, and titanium white. Use small amounts of burnt sienna for warmth and ivory black for shadows. Create the background by mixing ivory black and titanium white for various shades of gray.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·value studies
- ·color mixing
- ·rendering clothing
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the face
- →Overly harsh or muddy skin tones
- →Ignoring subtle value changes
- →Neglecting the background
- →Oversimplifying the clothing details
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·painting rags
Use a medium-sized canvas (e.g., 16x20 inches) for comfortable working. Acrylics are more beginner-friendly due to their faster drying time, but oils allow for smoother blending.
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