plate no. 5400

Self portrait

Edward R. Taylor, 1906

oilRomanticismself-portraitportraitmanbeardfacehairclothing

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 layering and blending to create soft transitions and subtle variations in color and value.

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 beard.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin, even layer of dark red-brown.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in hue and value.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Paint the beard, using short, broken strokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Define the clothing with broad strokes of dark color, suggesting form and folds.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Add small amounts of cadmium red or yellow ochre to warm up the skin tones. Use ivory black to create dark shadows and define the clothing.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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