plate no. 6668
Self Portrait
Eugène Jansson, 1910
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, figure drawing, and capturing light and shadow with visible brushstrokes. It will also help with understanding how to create a sense of depth and atmosphere using color and brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main figure and background elements, focusing on proportions and composition.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, starting with the background and then the figure.
- step 03
Build up layers of paint, gradually adding details and refining the forms.
- step 04
Focus on capturing the light and shadow on the figure's face and clothing.
- step 05
Use visible brushstrokes to create texture and movement.
- step 06
Pay attention to the color temperature and how it changes across the painting.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to bring the painting to life.
- step 08
Let the painting dry and add a varnish layer for protection.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
secondary · burnt umber · raw sienna · cadmium yellow
Mix white with small amounts of yellow ochre and blue to create the various shades of white clothing. Use burnt umber and raw sienna to create the skin tones, adjusting with white and yellow ochre for highlights.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·alla prima
- ·figure drawing
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly feel.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the figure.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the white clothing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#8 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for visible brushstrokes. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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