plate no. 6436

Self Portrait

Augustus John, 1940

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanself-portraitclothingfacial hair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing likeness through simplified forms and color variations. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and creating a sense of depth with limited values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color, focusing on the background and clothing first.
step 03
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Mix and apply a range of skin tones, using warm and cool colors to create depth and dimension.
step 05
Use bold, visible brushstrokes to define the form and add texture.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create contrast and volume.
step 07
Refine the details of the facial hair and clothing.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, red, umber, and a touch of blue. Achieve the blue of the shirt by mixing ultramarine blue with white and a touch of umber to tone it down. Use red and umber for the background and facial hair.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·expressive brushwork
·color mixing
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Using too much detail, losing the expressive quality of the brushwork.
→Not paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas
·oil paints
·palette
·palette knife
·#4 round brush
·#6 flat brush
·linseed oil
·odorless mineral spirits

optional

·medium gloss
·easel
·painting rags
·mahl stick

Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the visibility of the brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.

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