plate no. 5595

Self-Portrait

Francis Picabia, 1923

ink, paperExpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanhairclothingtie

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in proportion, shading, and capturing likeness using line and value. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 6 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall shape and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main features: eyes, nose, mouth, and hairline.
step 03
Refine the facial features, paying attention to their unique characteristics.
step 04
Add details to the hair, using varied line weights to create texture.
step 05
Sketch the outline of the suit and tie.
step 06
Begin shading the face, using hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and form.
step 07
Add shading to the hair and clothing, following the light source.
step 08
Refine the details and add any final touches.

color palette

primary · black · sepia

secondary · cream · light brown

Vary the intensity of the black by diluting the ink with water to create different shades of gray. Mix a small amount of sepia with the black to warm up the tones.

techniques