plate no. 5193
Self-portrait
Johan Lundbye, 1841
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students understand subtle value changes in skin tones and how to create a realistic portrait. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and creating depth with limited color.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of dark brown.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending colors to refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations.
- step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the likeness.
- step 06
Paint the hair, using short strokes to create texture and volume.
- step 07
Refine the clothing and background, adding subtle details and shadows.
- step 08
Add the signature and date in the bottom right corner.
color palette
primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light
secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna
Mix skin tones by blending white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of umber. Use ivory black and raw umber for dark areas, and white for highlights.
techniques
- ·portrait painting
- ·value study
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Ignoring subtle value changes in the skin.
- →Focusing too much on details before establishing the overall form.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Pre-toned canvas with burnt umber can be helpful.
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