plate no. 7590
Self Portrait
Eugène Burnand, 1915
some experience helpful
Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in layering colors with pastels or colored pencils and capturing likeness through careful observation of proportions and values. It also provides practice in creating texture with hatching and cross-hatching techniques.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
- step 02
Establish the overall value structure by lightly shading the darker areas with a soft graphite pencil or a neutral pastel.
- step 03
Begin layering colors, starting with the mid-tones and gradually building up the darker and lighter areas.
- step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the skin tones, using a combination of warm and cool colors.
- step 05
Use hatching and cross-hatching techniques to create texture in the hair, beard, and clothing.
- step 06
Refine the details of the facial features, paying particular attention to the eyes and mouth.
- step 07
Add highlights to create a sense of depth and dimension.
- step 08
Soften edges and blend colors as needed to achieve a realistic effect.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · cerulean blue · sap green
Mix skin tones by blending burnt sienna, raw umber, and white, adding small amounts of red or blue to adjust the temperature. Use ivory black and raw umber for shadows and outlines. Add touches of green and red to the beard and hair for realism.
techniques
- ·hatching
- ·cross-hatching
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·value shading
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Using colors that are too saturated or intense.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
materials
surface · toned paper
required
- ·toned paper
- ·graphite pencils (HB, 2B)
- ·soft pastels or colored pencils
- ·kneaded eraser
- ·blending stumps
- ·fixative spray
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·pastel pencils
- ·ruler
Choose a paper with a slightly textured surface to help the pastels or colored pencils adhere. A toned paper will make it easier to establish the value structure.
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