plate no. 7674

Self Portrait

oil, canvasRealismself-portraitportraitfigurepalettewindowartist

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering realistic light and shadow. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere through soft brushwork and limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral tones, focusing on the light coming from the window.
step 03
Block in the large shapes of the figure, starting with the dark areas of the dress.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in skin tone.
step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension in the face and hair.
step 06
Paint the hand and palette, focusing on the details of the brushes and colors.
step 07
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious whole.
step 08
Add final glazes to enhance the depth and richness of the colors.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and raw umber for the dress, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.

techniques