plate no. 3336

Self-Portrait

oil, canvasMannerism (Late Renaissance)self-portraitportraitmanbeardclothingfacehistorical

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students understand how to build form with subtle value changes and how to create realistic skin tones by layering different colors. It will also teach them how to simplify complex details into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, shoulders, and facial features.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations.
step 05
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and details.
step 06
Add details to the clothing, such as the buttons and collar.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones by combining yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, with small amounts of red and umber for shadows. Achieve the dark clothing color by mixing ivory black and raw umber.

techniques

·underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·blending
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Making the dark areas too uniform and lacking depth.
→Not paying enough attention to the subtle color variations in the skin.
→Overworking details too early in the process.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt sienna, cadmium red light)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife