plate no. 1638

Self Portrait

Matthew Smith, 1909

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanhatclothingself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and form using expressive brushstrokes and a limited color palette. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head, shoulders, and torso.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color using thin washes, starting with the background and then the larger areas of the figure's clothing.
step 03
Build up the skin tones using a mix of warm and cool colors, paying attention to the subtle variations in light and shadow.
step 04
Define the features of the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, precise brushstrokes.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the buttons and tie, using thicker paint and more defined brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the background by adding subtle variations in color and texture.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · viridian · ivory black

Mix raw umber and white for the background and shadows. Use cadmium red light and white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of yellow ochre for warmth and viridian for cool shadows. Mix raw umber and ivory black for the dark clothing.

techniques