plate no. 9347
Self-Portrait
Paul Bril, 1600
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as landscape painting techniques for creating depth and atmosphere.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the figure, the landscape painting on the easel, and the musical instrument.
- step 02
Establish the background's dark tones with thin washes of brown and black, gradually building up depth.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the figure, focusing on accurate skin tones and the clothing's shapes.
- step 04
Start developing the landscape painting on the easel, working from background to foreground and paying attention to atmospheric perspective.
- step 05
Refine the figure's features, adding details to the face, hands, and clothing.
- step 06
Add details to the musical instrument, capturing its texture and form.
- step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of harmony and realism.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white
secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, sienna, and a touch of red. Create atmospheric perspective in the landscape by adding blue to distant colors.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·chiaroscuro
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions of the figure wrong.
- →Overworking the details too early in the painting process.
- →Failing to create a sense of depth in the landscape.
- →Not paying enough attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·palette knife
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
- ·easel
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to improve the flow and blending of the paints.
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