plate no. 5429

Self Portrait

oilNeoclassicismself-portraitportraitfiguredresshairribbonartist

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle skin tone blending, and rendering of fabrics and hair. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying a sense of personality.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, dress, and background.
step 03
Begin layering and blending the skin tones, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 04
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 05
Refine the dress, paying attention to the folds and highlights in the fabric.
step 06
Add the details of the ribbon and lace.
step 07
Adjust the background to create depth and contrast.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · yellow ochre · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, and umber, with small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth. The blue of the dress is created by mixing ultramarine blue with white, and small amounts of black to darken the shadows.

techniques