plate no. 7225

Self Portrait

Gwen John, 1902

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitportraitfiguredressfacehairbrooch

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric textures and patterns.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of muted brown and green tones.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones with a mix of white, red, yellow, and brown, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 04
Paint the dress with a base layer of red, then add the plaid pattern using darker and lighter shades of red and brown.
step 05
Define the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth, and blend carefully.
step 06
Add details such as the brooch, earrings, and hair strands.
step 07
Refine the values and colors throughout the painting to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black · sap green

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, red, yellow, and a touch of brown. Use burnt umber and ivory black to create the darker shades in the background and dress. Mix red and brown for the plaid pattern.

techniques