plate no. 2597

Self portrait

Jesús Meneses del Barco, 1973

oilContemporary Realismself-portraitportraitfiguremanself-portraitclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to build form using value changes and practice expressive brushwork to convey texture and light.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and placement of the head, shoulders, and main features.
step 02
Establish the overall warm background tone with a thin wash of burnt umber and yellow ochre.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a limited palette of earth tones and white.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color temperature.
step 05
Add the red color of the shirt, adjusting the hue and value to match the original.
step 06
Paint the dark coat, using broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 07
Add highlights to the hair and face to create a sense of light and dimension.
step 08
Refine the edges and details, stepping back frequently to assess the overall composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix various shades of skin tones using burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white. Add small amounts of red for warmth, and black for cool shadows. Use red and burnt umber to create the shirt color.

techniques

·blocking in
·dry brushing
·scumbling
·value studies
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat, lifeless appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in color temperature, making the portrait look unnatural.
→Getting the proportions wrong, leading to an inaccurate likeness.
→Not establishing a strong value structure early on, resulting in a muddy painting.