plate no. 4588
Self-Portrait
Henri Matisse, 1900
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create form and mood. It also encourages exploration of non-realistic color palettes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, focusing on the overall composition.
- step 03
Develop the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
- step 04
Add details to the clothing and background, using expressive brushstrokes.
- step 05
Refine the color palette, adjusting the hues and values as needed.
- step 06
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and interest.
- step 07
Step back and assess the overall composition and balance.
- step 08
Make any necessary adjustments to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Crimson Red · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White
secondary · Sap Green · Burnt Umber · Cadmium Yellow
Achieve the skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and blue. Darker areas are created by adding burnt umber and Prussian blue. The background colors are achieved by layering and blending the primary and secondary colors.
techniques
- ·Impasto
- ·Broken Color
- ·Color Mixing
- ·Expressive Brushwork
- ·Layering
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Not using enough paint to create the impasto effect.
- →Ignoring the overall composition and focusing too much on details.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
- ·Oil paints
- ·Palette
- ·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·Palette knife
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
optional
- ·Medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·Varnish
- ·Easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes and shapes to achieve a variety of textures.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
