plate no. 3449

Self-portrait

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)self-portraitportraitfiguremanclothingheadface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures and fabrics, such as the ruffled collar.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the head and shoulders, paying attention to the angle and placement of features.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darks and lights of the background, clothing, and face.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones, starting with mid-tones and gradually building up highlights and shadows.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate shapes and subtle value changes to capture the likeness.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights in the collar and the texture of the fabric.
step 06
Add details such as hair, beard, and the small details in the collar.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Darker tones are created by adding raw umber and a small amount of black. The collar is primarily white with subtle shadows created by mixing white with a touch of raw umber and blue.

techniques