plate no. 6815

Self-portrait

oilSymbolismself-portraitportraitfiguremanself-portraitclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering subtle tonal variations in skin tones. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the overall background tone with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the major shapes of the face and clothing, focusing on accurate proportions and placement.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Develop the form of the clothing, using darker tones to create shadows and lighter tones to indicate highlights.
step 06
Blend the edges of the forms to create a soft, naturalistic effect.
step 07
Add final details, such as highlights in the eyes and subtle variations in skin tone.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to adjust values and unify the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · raw sienna

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and beige by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, and titanium white. Add small amounts of cadmium red light to warm up the skin tones. Use ivory black to create darker shadows and define the forms.

techniques