plate no. 4735
Self-Portrait
George Caleb Bingham, 1835
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using value and color.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color on the face, hair, and clothing.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 05
Add details to the hair, including highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Work on the clothing, creating folds and texture.
- step 07
Refine the background and add any final details.
- step 08
Add highlights and shadows to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, sienna, and a touch of red. Dark areas are created by adding burnt umber and black. The background is a mix of umber and black.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·blending
- ·value studies
- ·layering
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the face
- →Over-blending, resulting in a flat appearance
- →Inaccurate skin tones
- →Ignoring the light source
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·retouch varnish
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-sized canvas is recommended for this project.
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