plate no. 7461

Self-portrait

Kuzmá Petrov-Vodkin, 1927

oilSymbolismself-portraitportraitfiguremanfaceclothingbackground figure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth through subtle value changes and layering. It also provides an opportunity to practice rendering soft, diffused light and creating a sense of atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the main shapes and proportions of the face and figure.
step 02
Block in the background with a diluted blue, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Pay close attention to the planes of the face and how light interacts with them.
step 05
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Paint the clothing and tie, focusing on the subtle folds and shadows.
step 07
Add the background figure with a soft, blurred effect.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and harmonious painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing raw umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white, with small amounts of burnt sienna for warmth. The blue background is created by mixing ultramarine blue with titanium white and a touch of black for darker areas.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·layering
·blending
·value control

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details and losing the overall impression.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Failing to capture the subtle nuances of skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, ivory black)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags