plate no. 1982
Self-Portrait
George Frederick Watts, 1864
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure.
- step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, focusing on the subtle variations in tone.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure, including the hat, face, and clothing, using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 04
Start building up the values in the face, using small brushstrokes to create the form and features.
- step 05
Add details to the beard and hair, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
- step 06
Refine the clothing and hat, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 07
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create a sense of light and depth.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna
Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining umber, black, and white. Use yellow ochre and raw sienna to warm up the skin tones.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·grisaille underpainting
- ·glazing
- ·dry brushing
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using too much color in the initial layers.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·odorless mineral spirits
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Prepare the canvas with gesso before beginning to paint.
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