plate no. 4443

Self-portrait

Emil Nolde, 1912

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfacefigureself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing and layering to create depth and form, as well as expressive brushwork to convey emotion.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head and facial features.
step 02
Apply a thin wash of yellow and orange to the right side of the face and the background.
step 03
Apply a thin wash of blue to the left side of the face and the background.
step 04
Begin layering darker blues, greens, and browns to define the shadows and contours on the face.
step 05
Add highlights with lighter yellows and oranges, focusing on the nose, forehead, and cheekbones.
step 06
Use small, deliberate brushstrokes to create texture and detail in the hair and facial features.
step 07
Refine the details of the eyes and mouth, paying attention to the expression.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall balance of the painting.

color palette

primary · Prussian Blue · Cadmium Yellow · Cadmium Orange

secondary · Burnt Umber · Sap Green · Alizarin Crimson

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow. Create browns by mixing orange, blue, and a touch of red. Use white sparingly to lighten colors.

techniques

·Wet-on-wet blending
·Color layering
·Expressive brushwork
·Limited palette mixing

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Losing the sense of form and structure in the face.
→Using too much white, which can make the colors appear chalky.
→Not capturing the expressive quality of the brushstrokes.

materials

surface · Watercolor paper 140lb

required

·Watercolor paper 140lb
·Watercolor paints (Prussian Blue, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Burnt Umber, Sap Green, Alizarin Crimson)
·Round brushes (various sizes)
·Palette
·Water container
·Paper towels

optional