plate no. 0300

Self-Portrait

Philip de Laszlo, 1911

oilImpressionismself-portraitportraitmanhatfacemustacheclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and capturing light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in rendering details like facial hair and clothing textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Begin layering in skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually adding highlights and shadows.
step 04
Mix and apply the colors for the hat, focusing on capturing the subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, using smaller brushes.
step 06
Add the mustache and other facial hair, paying attention to the direction and flow of the hairs.
step 07
Paint the clothing and background, using loose brushstrokes to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · sap green

Skin tones can be achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and ivory black to create cool shadows. Mix green and yellow for the tie.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·color mixing for skin tones
·layering
·blending
·impasto

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Neglecting the importance of accurate proportions.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Getting lost in details too early in the process.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 or similar)
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, ivory black)
·assorted brushes (round and flat, sizes 2-8)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits

optional