plate no. 4231
Self-portrait
Jean-Paul Laurens, 1876
some experience helpful
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 creating depth and form through subtle value changes.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of features.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of neutral tones.
- step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, beard, and clothing with corresponding values.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to refine the skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness.
- step 06
Work on the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 07
Refine the clothing and background, adding subtle details and variations in tone.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and titanium white, adjusting the ratios to create highlights and shadows. Use small amounts of cadmium red light to add warmth to the cheeks and lips.
techniques
- ·underpainting
- ·layering
- ·blending
- ·scumbling
- ·dry brushing
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Over-blending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes in the face and clothing.
- →Failing to capture the texture of the beard and hair.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·turpentine
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. A medium-grit canvas will provide a good surface for layering and blending.
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