plate no. 9962

Self portrait

Cuno Amiet, 1954

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitportraitself-portraitfigureflowersstill lifeindoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and capturing likeness through expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in layering paint to create depth and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in large areas of color with thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Define the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, background, and still life elements.
step 06
Refine the brushwork, using expressive strokes to create texture and movement.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to achieve a harmonious balance.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · viridian green · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, raw umber, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use viridian green and ultramarine blue to create the background and vase. Mix burnt sienna and cadmium red for the darker reds in the flowers.

techniques

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

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions.
→Applying paint too thickly, obscuring the underlayers.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 16x20
·oil paints (yellow ochre, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags