plate no. 0474
Self Portrait
Jan Mankes, 1909
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portrait proportions, subtle color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth with limited value contrast. It's a good exercise in capturing likeness and mood with a muted palette.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
- step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of muted gray-blue.
- step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of skin tones.
- step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 05
Add the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest texture.
- step 06
Paint the clothing with simple, flat tones, adding subtle variations to indicate folds and shadows.
- step 07
Refine the edges and details, softening some areas and sharpening others to create depth.
- step 08
Add any final highlights or shadows to enhance the overall form and mood.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black
secondary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · cadmium red light
Skin tones are achieved by mixing white with small amounts of raw umber, burnt sienna, and cadmium red light. The background is a mix of ultramarine blue, ivory black, and white. Use yellow ochre to warm the skin tones.
techniques
- ·portrait proportions
- ·color mixing for skin tones
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
- →Using too much contrast, which can flatten the image.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin and clothing.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·#4 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·odorless mineral spirits
- ·medium gloss
Use a smooth canvas for best results. Consider toning the canvas with a thin wash of raw umber before beginning.
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