plate no. 1720

Self-portrait

oil, canvasBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanclothinghairscroll

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using chiaroscuro.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darks and lights with thin washes of paint.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and proportions of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Develop the hair, using layers of dark and light tones to create volume and texture.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery, and using highlights and shadows to create form.
step 06
Render the hand and the scroll, carefully observing the details and textures.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure and doesn't distract from the focal point.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the realism and bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Achieve darks by mixing black and umber. Vary the ratios to create subtle shifts in color temperature.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·chiaroscuro
·portraiture
·blending

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
→Making the darks too flat and lacking depth.
→Ignoring the importance of highlights in creating form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas 18x24
·Oil paints: raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, cadmium red light
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags