plate no. 9797
Self-Portrait
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint, creating texture with brushstrokes, and understanding how to use a limited color palette to achieve depth and form. Students will also practice creating a unique and expressive portrait.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the face and shoulders using a light pencil.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of gray as a background.
- step 03
Block in the darkest areas of the face with a dark brown or black paint.
- step 04
Add layers of burnt sienna and other warm colors to build up the mid-tones and highlights.
- step 05
Use dry brush techniques to create texture and detail in the skin.
- step 06
Define the contours of the face with thin, dark lines.
- step 07
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final touches.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white
secondary · black · gray
Mix burnt sienna with raw umber to create a range of warm browns. Add white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Use black sparingly to define the darkest areas.
techniques
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·contour drawing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality of the painting.
- →Using too much black and creating a muddy effect.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the face.
- →Failing to create enough contrast between the light and dark areas.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·black oil paint
- ·gray oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·painting medium
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the dry brush effect. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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