plate no. 9135
Self Portrait
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones, as well as understanding the use of light and shadow to create form.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and hand placement.
- step 02
Establish the background with a gradient of light blue, blending smoothly.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, black clothing, and the hat.
- step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone and the placement of highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the collar and the folds in the fabric.
- step 06
Paint the flower, focusing on the delicate petals and stem.
- step 07
Refine the hands, paying attention to the knuckles and fingernails.
- step 08
Add final details and highlights to the entire painting, ensuring that the overall composition is balanced and harmonious.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ivory black · raw umber · cadmium red light
secondary · cerulean blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson
Skin tones can be achieved by mixing titanium white, cadmium red light, raw umber, and a touch of yellow ochre. The black clothing is a mixture of ivory black with a touch of raw umber to soften the color.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·blending
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
- →Making the black clothing too flat and lifeless.
- →Ignoring the subtle variations in light and shadow.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·cerulean blue oil paint
- ·round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·medium gloss
Use high-quality oil paints for the best results. A smooth canvas surface will make blending easier.
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