plate no. 4143

Self-Portrait

Max Ernst, 1909

oil, canvasExpressionismself-portraitportraitfigurefacehandself-portraitman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and understanding light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and conveying emotion through facial expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on the proportions and placement of the facial features and hand.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Start building up the skin tones, mixing a range of warm and cool colors.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color within the face.
step 05
Develop the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the unique characteristics of the subject.
step 06
Work on the hand, paying attention to the form and the way the light falls on it.
step 07
Refine the background and clothing, keeping them relatively simple and understated.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and realism.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · viridian

Mix skin tones by combining yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white, adding small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and ultramarine blue for cool shadows. Use viridian mixed with black for the dark areas of the suit.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·value study
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and color within the face.
→Focusing too much on details before establishing the overall form.
→Getting the proportions wrong, leading to an inaccurate likeness.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints: yellow ochre, burnt umber, titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium red, viridian
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife
·Rags