plate no. 6404
Self-Portrait
Horace Pippin, 1944
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. It also encourages simplification of form and direct observation.
technical profile
palette complexity
2
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and suit on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of blue paint.
- step 03
Mix a base skin tone and apply it to the face, neck, and ears.
- step 04
Add darker tones to create shadows and define the features, paying attention to the planes of the face.
- step 05
Mix lighter tones and apply them to the highlights on the face and neck.
- step 06
Paint the suit and tie, using dark colors for the suit and lighter colors for the tie.
- step 07
Add details such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushes.
- step 08
Refine the painting by adding more layers of paint and adjusting the colors and values as needed.
color palette
primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue
secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black
Skin tones are achieved by mixing raw umber, titanium white, and small amounts of yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. The background is a mix of ultramarine blue and titanium white.
techniques
- ·blocking in
- ·dry brushing
- ·color mixing
- ·simplification of form
- ·direct observation
common pitfalls
- →Over-blending the colors, losing the texture of the brushstrokes.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Using colors that are too saturated.
- →Not paying attention to the light and shadow.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas
- ·Acrylic or oil paints
- ·Raw umber
- ·Titanium white
- ·Ultramarine blue
- ·Yellow ochre
- ·Ivory black
- ·Assorted paint brushes
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Medium (for oil paints)
- ·Easel
Use a canvas with a medium texture to enhance the brushstrokes. Acrylics are faster drying and easier to clean, but oils allow for more blending time.
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