plate no. 2136

Self Portrait

Piet Mondrian, 1900

oil, canvasImpressionismself-portraitportraitself-portraitmanbeardfigureclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color temperature and how to create form with loose brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression in portraiture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and placement of the head, shoulders, and features.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of dark red-brown.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and clothing using a limited palette.
step 04
Begin building up layers of color, focusing on capturing the subtle shifts in skin tone.
step 05
Refine the features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add details such as the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · viridian · ivory black

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the base skin tone. Add small amounts of cadmium red for warmth and viridian or ivory black for shadows. Use white to lighten values.

techniques