plate no. 3095
Self-portrait
some experience helpful
This painting offers practice in portraiture, focusing on skin tones and subtle value changes to create form. Students will learn to blend colors to achieve realistic skin and fabric textures.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
- step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of neutral tones.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, hair, clothing, and collar.
- step 04
Begin layering and blending skin tones, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 06
Add details to the clothing, focusing on the folds and textures.
- step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a sense of depth and realism.
- step 08
Add the final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · ivory black
secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones using white, raw umber, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use ivory black to darken shadows and create depth in the clothing.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·scumbling
- ·glazing
- ·value control
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the face.
- →Ignoring the subtle value changes that create form.
- →Using too much black, which can flatten the painting.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 16x20
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·cadmium red light oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·assorted round and flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Allow each layer to dry before applying the next.
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