plate no. 5851

Self-portrait

oilNorthern Renaissanceself-portraitportraitfigurehatclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and subtle value transitions to create form. It also provides practice in mixing realistic skin tones and rendering clothing folds.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the proportions of the head, shoulders, and hat.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown or black.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hat, and clothing with simplified values.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the placement and shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the skin tones by layering and blending different shades of pink, yellow, and brown.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the folds and wrinkles in the fabric.
step 07
Refine the highlights and shadows to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 08
Add final details, such as the texture of the hair and the details of the collar.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and titanium white, with small amounts of ivory black and ultramarine blue for shadows. Achieve darker tones by mixing ivory black and raw umber.

techniques