plate no. 5296
Self-Portrait
Hugo Simberg, 1907
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with light and shadow. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones and subtle variations in the white clothing.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hat.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of burnt sienna and raw umber.
- step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of earth tones.
- step 04
Mix and apply the base color for the skin, gradually building up highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Paint the beard and mustache with dark browns and blacks, paying attention to the direction of the hair.
- step 06
Render the white hat and shirt, using subtle variations in value to create form.
- step 07
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 08
Refine the edges and details throughout the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt sienna · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black
secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson
Mix skin tones using burnt sienna, raw umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Add small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth and ultramarine blue for cool shadows. For the white clothing, mix titanium white with small amounts of raw umber and ultramarine blue to create subtle variations in value.
techniques
- ·portrait sketching
- ·value studies
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Using too much white in the clothing, resulting in a flat and lifeless appearance.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in value and color.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·oil paints (burnt sienna, raw umber, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes (round and flat)
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·mahl stick
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grit canvas will provide a good surface for the brushwork.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
