plate no. 1934

Self-Portrait

oil, cardboardRomanticismself-portraitportraitmanfigureclothinghairchair

some experience helpful

This painting provides an opportunity to practice portraiture, focusing on capturing likeness and using chiaroscuro to model form. Students can also learn to create texture with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and hand.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of red and brown.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the clothing and hair with a dark mix.
step 04
Begin modeling the face with light and shadow, focusing on the planes of the face.
step 05
Add details to the hair and beard, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the hand, paying attention to the bone structure and skin tones.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the face and clothing.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · cadmium red · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · viridian

Mix various shades of brown and red for the background. Use white to lighten skin tones and black to darken shadows. A touch of green can neutralize some of the reds and browns.

techniques