plate no. 9810

Self-Portrait

Leo Steel, 1902

oilRealismself-portraitportraitfiguremanself-portraitartistclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating depth through value and color. It also provides practice in layering and blending oil paints to achieve realistic skin tones and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the dark background using a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, shirt, and palette with mid-tone values.
step 04
Begin layering lighter values on the face to create highlights and define features.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 06
Refine the shirt and palette, adding texture and details with visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium yellow

Mix skin tones using white, umber, sienna, and small amounts of blue and yellow. Use white and umber to create the various shades of the shirt. Darken colors with burnt umber and lighten with titanium white.

techniques