plate no. 4386

Self Portrait

Maggie Laubser, 1928

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfigurewomanfacehairself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature and how to use bold brushstrokes to define form. It also provides practice in simplifying complex shapes into basic planes of color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the face and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of blue.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow using simplified color blocks.
step 04
Mix and apply the skin tones, focusing on the temperature variations in light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the hair with bold, directional strokes, capturing the highlights and shadows.
step 06
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, keeping the overall style expressive.
step 07
Define the collar and add the orange detail.
step 08
Refine the edges and adjust the colors as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · yellow ochre · violet

Mix various shades of skin tones by combining white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber for shadows. Use ultramarine blue and white for the background, adding small amounts of other colors to create subtle variations.

techniques

·Blocking in
·Color temperature
·Expressive brushstrokes
·Simplifying forms
·Color mixing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Using colors that are too saturated.
→Not paying attention to the temperature variations in the skin tones.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt umber, titanium white, cadmium red, yellow ochre)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (flat and round)
·Palette knife
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Rags