plate no. 1123
Self Portrait
Frederick Carl Frieseke, 1938
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and capturing subtle light variations within a limited palette. It also provides practice in depicting reflective surfaces and creating a sense of atmosphere.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes and composition, paying attention to the placement of the figure and still life elements.
- step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by blocking in the large areas of color with thin washes.
- step 03
Begin building up layers of color, focusing on the light and shadow patterns.
- step 04
Develop the details of the figure, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Refine the still life elements, capturing the textures and reflections.
- step 06
Add highlights and details to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and contrast to create a cohesive composition.
- step 08
Add final details and refine edges.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
secondary · titanium white · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson
Achieve the warm browns by mixing burnt umber with yellow ochre and small amounts of alizarin crimson. Create the blues by mixing ultramarine blue with titanium white. Use cadmium yellow to create the highlights.
techniques
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Ignoring the subtle shifts in color and value.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·flat brushes (sizes 4, 8)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·turpentine
- ·retouch varnish
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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