plate no. 9166

Self-Portrait

oilBaroqueself-portraitportraitfigureartistchairpaintingself-portrait

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering complex drapery. It will also improve their understanding of chiaroscuro and Baroque painting techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and proportions of the figure and the chair.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the large shapes of the background, chair, and clothing.
step 03
Start building up the values, paying attention to the light and shadow patterns on the face, hands, and drapery.
step 04
Develop the details of the face, focusing on capturing the likeness of the artist.
step 05
Refine the drapery, adding folds and highlights to create a sense of volume and texture.
step 06
Work on the background details, including the painting and the architectural elements.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the face, hands, and clothing.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and add depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Use cadmium red to add warmth to the cheeks and lips. Create shadows by adding ivory black to the skin tone mixture.

techniques

·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·portraiture
·drapery rendering

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the artist.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, cadmium red, ivory black, yellow ochre)
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·palette knife