plate no. 7381

Self-portrait

oil, canvasRococoself-portraitportraitfigureartistself-portraitclothingpalette

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth through value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, canvas, and palette.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of brown and ochre.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, hat, and ribbon.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to light and shadow.
step 05
Develop the details of the clothing, focusing on the ruffles and folds.
step 06
Add details to the hat and ribbon, capturing their texture and form.
step 07
Paint the palette and brushes, suggesting their shapes and colors.
step 08
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding highlights.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium red · raw sienna

Mix skin tones using white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Achieve the dark clothing color by mixing black and umber. Use red and white for the ribbon.

techniques