plate no. 1699

Self Portrait

Giovanni Boldini, 1911

oilRealismportraitportraitmansuitchairfigureclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating depth through value and color. It also provides practice in loose, expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with thin washes of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the suit, skin tones, and background.
step 04
Develop the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Refine the details of the suit, including the buttons and folds.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Use loose, expressive brushstrokes to capture the texture of the painting.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and add depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using white, yellow, red, and a touch of blue. Create shadows by adding burnt umber and black to the base colors. Achieve the warm background by layering burnt sienna and raw umber.

techniques