plate no. 4945

Self Portrait

Dmitri Zhilinsky, 1993

oilContemporary Realismself-portraitself-portraitflowersroosterstill lifefigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and rendering different textures like fabric, feathers, and foliage. It also provides practice in depicting light and shadow on complex forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark green, establishing the overall tone.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones of the face and hands, using a limited palette.
step 04
Paint the flowers and vase, focusing on the shapes and colors of the blooms.
step 05
Add the rooster, paying attention to the details of its feathers and comb.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and realistic painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · alizarin crimson

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, adding small amounts of red or blue to adjust the temperature. Achieve the green of the vase by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and a touch of white. The flower color is achieved by mixing red and white.

techniques