plate no. 2871

Self Portrait

Omer Mujadžić, 1972

oilContemporary Realismself-portraitportraitmanfaceframeclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing subtle light and shadow. It also provides practice in creating a convincing likeness and working with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval shape of the portrait and the basic proportions of the head and facial features.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main shadow shapes on the face and clothing using a mid-tone mixture.
step 04
Begin adding highlights to the face, focusing on the forehead, nose, and cheekbones.
step 05
Mix subtle color variations for the skin tones, paying attention to the warm and cool areas.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 07
Paint the clothing and the frame, adding details and highlights.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt umber

Mix skin tones using white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of blue or umber to create shadows. Use ultramarine blue and white for the cooler tones in the hair and clothing. Mix gold using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of white.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·value study
·blending
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (8x10 or similar)
·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red light, ultramarine blue, yellow ochre, burnt umber)
·assorted brushes (small round, small flat)
·palette
·linseed oil or other painting medium
·palette knife
·odorless mineral spirits or turpentine
·rags or paper towels