plate no. 8508

Self-Portrait

Charles Demuth, 1907

oilRealismself-portraitportraitfiguremanself-portraitclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in mixing skin tones and creating a sense of depth using a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the dark areas of the background and clothing.
step 03
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Mix a range of skin tones and apply them to the face, using subtle variations to create form and dimension.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to the face to enhance the sense of depth and realism.
step 06
Refine the details of the clothing, including the collar, jacket, and tie.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a cohesive and harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones using white, burnt sienna, and a touch of red and blue. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dark background and clothing, adding small amounts of blue to cool the shadows.

techniques