apprentice
artistsserieslearnchatartworkscommunity gallery
apprentice

deliberate practice for serious artists

aboutgalleryprivacyterms
built by reducibl.com
home·artworks·Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait by Peter Paul Rubens

plate no. 3159

Self-Portrait

Peter Paul Rubens, 1639

oil, canvasBaroqueself-portraitportraitfigureclothinghathandsface
experienced study

Students would develop portrait painting fundamentals including flesh tone mixing, fabric rendering, and the sophisticated use of chiaroscuro lighting to model three-dimensional form.

technical profile

palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Begin with accurate drawing and proportional measurements of the figure

  2. step 02

    Establish the darkest darks and lightest lights to map the value structure

  3. step 03

    Block in the large shapes with mid-tone colors for face, clothing, and background

  4. step 04

    Develop the flesh tones with warm and cool temperature variations

  5. step 05

    Paint the white collar with careful attention to reflected light and shadow

  6. step 06

    Render the black clothing with subtle variations to show form and texture

  7. step 07

    Refine facial features with careful attention to light direction and form

  8. step 08

    Add final details like facial hair texture and clothing accessories

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ivory black · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · raw umber · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Flesh tones require warm yellows and reds mixed with white, cooled with small amounts of blue or umber for shadows

techniques

  • ·chiaroscuro lighting
  • ·flesh tone mixing
  • ·fabric rendering
  • ·glazing for depth
  • ·soft edge blending

common pitfalls

  • →making flesh tones too pink or orange
  • →overworking facial features
  • →losing the overall value pattern
  • →making blacks too flat without subtle color variations

materials

surface · stretched canvas primed with gesso

required

  • ·#4 and #8 flat brushes
  • ·#2 and #6 round brushes
  • ·burnt umber oil paint
  • ·titanium white oil paint
  • ·ivory black oil paint
  • ·cadmium red light
  • ·yellow ochre
  • ·stretched canvas 16x20

optional

  • ·palette knife for mixing
  • ·alkyd medium for faster drying
  • ·#12 flat brush for larger areas
  • ·alizarin crimson for deeper reds

Use quality brushes as portrait work requires precise control and smooth blending

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

related guides

oil painting for beginners →chiaroscuro →how to learn by studying the masters →
chat about this artwork

in this vein

related artworks

Girl with a Straw Hat

Girl with a Straw Hat

Judith Leyster

Gezicht Op De Laurenskerk Gezien Vanuit Noordoosten

Gezicht Op De Laurenskerk Gezien Vanuit Noordoosten

Abraham Storck

Bathsheba Bathing

Bathsheba Bathing

Francesco Solimena

Repentant Peter

Repentant Peter

Guido Reni

Itinerant Musicians

Itinerant Musicians

Jacob Ochtervelt

Marie Christine

Marie Christine

Marcello Bacciarelli

Santa Cecilia E Due Angeli

Santa Cecilia E Due Angeli

Giulio Cesare Procaccini

Scene from the Life of Saint Benedict

Scene from the Life of Saint Benedict

Philippe de Champaigne