plate no. 8247

Self-Portrait

Nelson Shanks, 1987

oilContemporary Realismself-portraitportraitself-portraitfigureartiststudiopainting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering skin tones, and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in depicting different textures, such as fabric and hair.

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 overall composition, paying attention to proportions and placement of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, layering colors to create depth and realism.
step 04
Work on the details of the face, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
step 05
Paint the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures of the fabric.
step 06
Add details to the background, including the painting and studio elements.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, and a touch of ultramarine blue. Use raw umber and ultramarine blue for the denim jacket, and burnt sienna and raw umber for the wooden elements.

techniques