plate no. 7505

Self-portrait

oilRomanticismself-portraitportraitmanbeardglasseshairclothing

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in layering and blending oil paints to create subtle variations in color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape and the main features of the face, hair, and beard.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark reddish-brown color.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and beard using thin washes of color.
step 04
Begin layering in more detail on the face, paying attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Develop the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Refine the background and clothing, adding subtle details and highlights.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna with white to create the base skin tones. Use small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre to add warmth to the skin. Mix ivory black with burnt umber to create the dark tones in the beard and hair.

techniques