plate no. 1327

Self-portrait

Józef Pankiewicz, 1900

oilImpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanglassesclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with subtle value changes. It also offers practice in capturing likeness and creating a sense of depth through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the background with broad strokes, focusing on the overall color and value.
step 04
Begin layering in skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details to the clothing and accessories, such as the glasses and tie.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of harmony and depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · raw sienna

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber to create subtle variations. The background is a mix of browns, umbers, and blacks.

techniques

·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Focusing too much on details early on, before establishing the overall form and values.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, ivory black, raw sienna)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife