plate no. 3388

Self-portrait

oilRomanticismself-portraitportraitfiguremanhairclothingprofile

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as understanding value and form through loose brushwork. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background tone with a thin wash of diluted color.
step 03
Block in the large areas of dark values for the hair and clothing.
step 04
Begin to build up the skin tones, focusing on the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Refine the features of the face, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create a sense of form and depth.
step 07
Develop the details of the hair and clothing, using loose brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and adjustments to the overall composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix skin tones using white, red, and a touch of umber or yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the skin tones in shadow areas. Mix a dark brown for the hair and clothing using umber and a touch of blue.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·value studies
·color mixing
·loose brushwork
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the brushwork
→Incorrect proportions of the face
→Failing to capture the subtle shifts in value
→Using too much detail in the background
→Not establishing a strong focal point

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·raw umber oil paint
·titanium white oil paint
·cadmium red light oil paint
·#4 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·palette
·linseed oil

optional

·palette knife
·medium gloss
·painting easel

A toned canvas can help to create a more unified and harmonious painting. Consider using a thin wash of raw umber or burnt sienna to tone the canvas before beginning to paint.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein