plate no. 2109

Self-portrait

oilImpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanclothingchairtable

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding value relationships to create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main value blocks: dark suit, light skin, mid-tone background.
step 03
Begin painting the background with thin washes of color, focusing on subtle variations.
step 04
Block in the basic skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle details.
step 06
Paint the dark suit, using layers to build up depth and texture.
step 07
Add details to the chair and table, including highlights and shadows.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · viridian · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of skin tone using white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Achieve the background color by mixing white with small amounts of red, blue, and yellow.

techniques