plate no. 1364

Self-portrait

oil, canvasRealismself-portraitportraitmanself-portraitartistclothingpalette

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 mixing realistic skin tones and depicting clothing folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hands.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of muted blue-gray.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and palette.
step 04
Refine the values and colors of the face, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the hair, beard, and clothing, using small brushstrokes.
step 06
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Paint the hand holding the palette and brushes, focusing on the gesture and form.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Skin tones are achieved by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red light. Darker areas use more burnt umber and ivory black, while highlights use more titanium white and yellow ochre.

techniques