plate no. 6329

Self-Portrait

Periklis Vyzantios, 1926

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitfigureportraitself-portraitmanclothingartist

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in depicting fabric and creating a sense of depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and pose.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, shirt, pants, background, and canvas.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, focusing on the subtle shifts in value to create form.
step 04
Develop the details of the shirt, paying attention to the folds and highlights.
step 05
Work on the pants, capturing the texture and folds of the fabric.
step 06
Refine the background, ensuring it recedes and doesn't compete with the figure.
step 07
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of depth and realism.

color palette

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

secondary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of burnt sienna. The shirt is primarily white with subtle additions of raw umber and ivory black to create shadows and highlights. The background is a mix of ivory black and ultramarine blue.

techniques