plate no. 5363

Self-portrait

Lajos Gulacsy, 1903

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfigurelandscapebuildingsskyself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in limited palette painting and capturing likeness with expressive brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth with subtle value changes.

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 head, shoulders, and background elements (buildings, sky).
step 02
Block in the main areas of color with thin washes, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Start building up the darker values in the hair, clothing, and shadows on the face.
step 04
Add mid-tones to create form and volume, blending edges where necessary.
step 05
Introduce lighter values to highlight the face and other areas of interest.
step 06
Refine the details of the face, paying attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add texture and interest to the background with expressive brushstrokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna for the warm browns. Use titanium white to lighten the colors and create highlights. Add small amounts of ivory black to darken the shadows.

techniques