plate no. 5745

Self-Portrait

Fairfield Porter, 1972

oilContemporary Realismself-portraitportraitfigureself-portraitmanhairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing likeness through simplified forms. It also provides practice in visible brushwork and layering.

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 and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hair.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin, even layer of the light pinkish-white color.
step 03
Establish the main shadow shapes on the face and neck using a mix of browns, blues, and reds.
step 04
Begin layering in the mid-tones and highlights, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color temperature.
step 05
Define the features (eyes, nose, mouth) with careful observation and precise brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the hair using bold, directional strokes to suggest form and texture.
step 07
Add details to the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
step 08
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting to achieve a sense of realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and small amounts of blue and umber. Vary the proportions to create different values and temperatures. The hair is a mix of umber, black, and blue. The shirt is blue with touches of white and umber.

techniques