plate no. 9365

Self-portrait

Marevna (Marie Vorobieff), 1929

oilPointillismself-portraitportraitfigurehairfaceself-portrait

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for skin tones and develop patience and precision in applying small brushstrokes. It also introduces the concept of optical mixing through pointillism.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the face, hair, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background color with small dots of varying hues.
step 03
Begin layering dots to define the shadows and highlights on the face.
step 04
Mix and apply dots of color for the hair, paying attention to the curls.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add subtle color variations to the skin to create depth and realism.
step 07
Continue layering dots to build up the overall texture and color intensity.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green

Mix yellow ochre and burnt sienna with white for the base skin tone. Add small amounts of blue and crimson for shadows and redness. Use green and blue for the background.

techniques