plate no. 0706

Self-portrait

John Brack, 1955

oilExpressionismself-portraitself-portraitfigurebathroomshowertilesrazor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones through layering and blending. It also provides practice in depicting different textures and materials, such as tile and metal.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Establish the overall color scheme by applying a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Begin layering in the mid-tones and shadows on the face and body.
step 04
Carefully blend the edges of the shadows to create smooth transitions.
step 05
Add highlights to the face, hand, and showerhead to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Define the details of the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Paint the background tiles, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and tone.
step 08
Add final details, such as the hair, clothing, and razor.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · viridian · burnt sienna

Mix yellow ochre and white for the background tiles, adding small amounts of raw umber for shadows. Create skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of burnt sienna. Use viridian and raw umber for the green jacket.

techniques