plate no. 9430

Self-Portrait

oilBaroqueself-portraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairoval

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering fabric folds. It also provides practice in achieving subtle gradations of tone and color to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval composition and the figure's pose, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of burnt umber and raw sienna.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, hair, clothing, and collar.
step 04
Begin refining the skin tones, layering light and shadow to create form.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using dark browns and blacks.
step 06
Work on the clothing, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 07
Add the details of the collar, using yellows and whites.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding details as needed.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing titanium white, raw sienna, and a touch of burnt umber. The blue of the cloak is ultramarine blue lightened with white. The gold collar is yellow ochre and cadmium yellow.

techniques