plate no. 9823

Self Portrait

Mykola Samokysh, 1944

oilRealismself-portraitportraitmanglassessmokingself-portraitfigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portrait proportions, skin tone mixing, and capturing a likeness. It also provides an opportunity to study the effects of light and shadow on a face.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic head shape and facial features, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hair, clothing, and background.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, mixing variations of red, yellow, and brown to capture the subtle shifts in color.
step 04
Define the shadows and highlights on the face to create depth and volume.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, focusing on capturing the subject's likeness.
step 06
Refine the clothing and background, adding texture and detail as needed.
step 07
Add the glasses and cigarette, paying attention to their placement and form.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones using burnt umber, raw sienna, cadmium red, and titanium white. Add small amounts of yellow ochre or ultramarine blue to adjust the warmth or coolness of the skin tones.

techniques