plate no. 2990

Self-portrait

oil, canvasAcademicismself-portraitportraitfiguremanbeardrobebackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding drapery and fabric folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Focus on the skin tones, building up layers of color to create depth and realism.
step 04
Develop the drapery, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the beard and hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Work on the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use varying ratios to create highlights and shadows. The robe is primarily red with white mixed in for highlights.

techniques

·portrait painting
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·drapery rendering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or lifeless appearance.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
→Creating overly harsh or defined lines.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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