plate no. 4969

Self-Portrait

oil, canvasBaroqueself-portraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the head, shoulders, and collar.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: the background, the skin tones, the hair, the clothing, and the collar.
step 03
Begin to refine the skin tones, paying close attention to the subtle variations in value and color.
step 04
Work on the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and facial hair.
step 05
Develop the dark areas of the clothing and hair, using layers of thin paint to create depth.
step 06
Add highlights to the collar and face to create contrast and bring the portrait to life.
step 07
Refine the background, blending the edges of the figure into the surrounding space.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed to achieve a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of burnt umber and raw umber. Use thin washes of umber and black to create shadows and depth in the clothing and hair.

techniques