plate no. 5077
Self Portrait
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in painting drapery and a simple landscape background.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the figure's pose and proportions.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin tones, clothing, background.
- step 03
Develop the background landscape, focusing on atmospheric perspective.
- step 04
Refine the skin tones, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
- step 05
Add details to the clothing, including highlights and shadows.
- step 06
Paint the drapery, capturing its folds and textures.
- step 07
Add final details such as the facial features, hair, and accessories.
- step 08
Glaze where necessary to unify tones and add depth.
color palette
primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
Mix skin tones by blending white, sienna, umber, and a touch of crimson. Achieve the black of the coat by mixing ivory black with a touch of burnt umber for warmth.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·atmospheric perspective
- ·drapery rendering
common pitfalls
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
- →Overworking the skin tones and losing the subtle variations.
- →Making the black of the coat too flat and lifeless.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·ivory black oil paint
- ·burnt umber oil paint
- ·raw sienna oil paint
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·alizarin crimson oil paint
- ·round brushes
- ·flat brushes
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grain canvas for best results. Consider using a toned canvas to speed up the painting process.
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