plate no. 5042
Self-Portrait
Ligia Macovei, 1943
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and atmospheric perspective, and capturing expressive brushwork.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 7 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure, table, and trees.
- step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and the table.
- step 03
Develop the skin tones, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
- step 04
Add details to the figure's clothing and hair, using expressive brushstrokes.
- step 05
Paint the trees, focusing on their unique shapes and textures.
- step 06
Refine the details of the table, including the lines and shadows.
- step 07
Adjust the overall color balance and value contrast to create a cohesive image.
color palette
primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · sap green
Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, and white. Create atmospheric perspective by adding blue and white to distant colors.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·color mixing
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·expressive brushwork
- ·blocking in
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective.
- →Getting lost in details too early in the painting process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
in this vein
related artworks
Dolly Sisters
Kees van Dongen
Nude with Loaves
Jean Helion
My Father
Carlos Botelho
Helen
Chronis Botsoglou
The portrait painter in the country
Albin Egger-Lienz
Marketta on Lázeňská street, Prague
Maria Bozoky
Winter at the Entrepotdok, in Amsterdam city
Paul Werner
Old Woman with Masks (Theatre of Masks)
James Ensor