plate no. 3794

Self-portrait

Jan Mankes, 1918

oilSymbolismself-portraitportraitfiguremanclothingfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and subtle value changes in skin tones. It also provides practice in layering and blending oil paints to achieve soft transitions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Prepare the canvas with a neutral ground.
step 02
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and background, using thin washes of paint.
step 04
Begin building up the values in the face, focusing on the subtle shadows and highlights to define the form.
step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to their shapes and placement.
step 06
Work on the hair and clothing, adding texture and detail with visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the background color and value to create depth and contrast.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall realism and expression.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, raw umber, and a touch of red. The background is a mix of white and ultramarine blue with a touch of raw umber. Browns are created using burnt sienna and raw umber.

techniques