plate no. 9770

Self-portrait

Balthus, 1940

oilExpressionismself-portraitfigureportraitself-portraitclothingchairartist

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and clothing, and creating depth through subtle value changes. Students will also learn to capture a likeness and convey a sense of personality.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, chair, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Begin blocking in the main color areas: skin, clothing, background, and chair.
step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, including folds and highlights.
step 06
Add details to the face, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Adjust the background and chair to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. Achieve the green jacket color by mixing viridian with yellow ochre and white. Use ultramarine and black for the dark background.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·value studies
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
→Making the background too dark or too light.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 16x20
·Oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, raw umber, viridian, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife
·Rags