plate no. 2080

Self-Portrait

Mario Eloy, 1928

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanfaceshirtself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating texture with visible brushstrokes. Students will also learn to simplify forms and focus on essential details.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, neck, and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Mix and apply the base color for the shirt, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add highlights to the face and shirt to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Use short, visible brushstrokes to build up texture and detail.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red

Skin tones are achieved by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, and small amounts of cadmium red. The shirt color is created by mixing ultramarine blue with burnt umber and a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques