plate no. 1515

Self-Portrait

oil, canvasNeoclassicismself-portraitportraitfiguremanclothingchairhand

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and rendering realistic skin tones and clothing folds. It also provides practice in creating subtle value gradations to model form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values of the background, clothing, and skin tones with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and proportions of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the values and details in the clothing, paying attention to the way light and shadow define the folds and textures.
step 05
Refine the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Add details such as the rings, pen, and chair.
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 · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · cadmium red

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black to create shadows and darker values. Mix green for the background by combining black and yellow ochre.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·blending
·value study
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Inaccurate proportions of the facial features.
→Overly harsh or muddy colors.
→Lack of attention to value gradations.
→Ignoring the subtle nuances of skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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