plate no. 6115

Self-portrait

oilRomanticismself-portraitportraitmanclothingfacehairself-portrait

some experience helpful

This painting provides practice in portraiture, focusing on subtle skin tone variations and capturing a likeness. Students will also learn to create depth using a limited color palette and soft blending techniques.

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 facial features.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of white, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.
step 04
Refine the skin tones by gradually layering and blending colors, paying attention to subtle variations in hue and value.
step 05
Paint the hair using a mix of black and burnt umber, adding highlights with a touch of white.
step 06
Block in the dark clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 07
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre

secondary · ivory black · raw sienna · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Use small amounts of red for the lips and cheeks. Darken colors with burnt umber and black.

techniques