plate no. 3860

Self-Portrait

Kazimir Malevich, 1910

gouache, paperFauvismself-portraitportraitfigureself-portraitclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, particularly to achieve non-naturalistic skin tones, and in applying expressive brushstrokes to define form and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the face, head, and clothing, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of red and orange, suggesting the figures behind.
step 03
Establish the main color zones on the face: yellow on one side, green on the other, and a strip of neutral color in the middle.
step 04
Mix and apply the colors for the clothing: red for the shirt, and a dark green/blue for the jacket.
step 05
Refine the facial features, adding details like the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth, using darker tones for shadows.
step 06
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Define the edges of the shapes with bold brushstrokes, emphasizing the expressive quality of the painting.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · red · yellow · green · blue

secondary · orange · black · white

Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow and green with small amounts of red and blue. Use white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Mix dark greens and blues for the jacket.

techniques