plate no. 9976
Self Portrait
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using value to create form. It also provides practice in alla prima painting and achieving a limited palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Prepare a toned canvas with a mid-tone brown or gray.
- step 02
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and collar.
- step 03
Block in the darkest areas of the background and clothing with a dark brown or black.
- step 04
Establish the main light source and begin to build up the highlights on the face, starting with the forehead and cheekbones.
- step 05
Mix and apply the mid-tones on the face, blending carefully to create smooth transitions.
- step 06
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
- step 07
Refine the hair and mustache, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of depth.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light
Mix raw umber and ivory black for the dark background. Use burnt sienna and white to create the skin tones, adding small amounts of cadmium red light for warmth in the cheeks and lips.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·value studies
- ·limited palette
- ·blending
- ·broken color
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending and losing the texture of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Using too much color and losing the harmony of the limited palette.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
A canvas with a smooth weave is recommended for this style of painting. Pre-toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber will create a warm undertone and help to unify the colors.
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