plate no. 9229

Self-portrait

Raiskina Marina, 2013

acrylicFauvismsymbolic paintingportraitfigurefacehairabstractsymbolic

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and creating texture with acrylics. It also encourages exploration of abstract portraiture and expressive brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic outline of the face and hair on the canvas.
step 02
Apply a thin, light-colored base layer to the face and background.
step 03
Begin layering in the main colors (yellow, purple, pink, orange) using short, choppy brushstrokes.
step 04
Focus on building up texture and depth by overlapping the colors.
step 05
Define the facial features (eyes, nose, mouth) with slightly darker and more precise strokes.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 07
Refine the hair and background, ensuring a balance between detail and abstraction.
step 08
Add final details and adjust colors as needed.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · light purple · titanium white

secondary · pink · orange · light blue

Mix white with primary colors to create lighter tints. Use small amounts of complementary colors (purple and yellow) to create neutral tones for shadows.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·scumbling
·color layering
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, resulting in a muddy appearance.
→Losing the overall structure of the face and hair.
→Using too much paint, creating a heavy and uneven surface.
→Neglecting the importance of highlights and shadows.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Acrylic paints (yellow ochre, light purple, pink, orange, titanium white, light blue)
·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Assorted brushes (small round, medium flat)
·Palette
·Water container
·Palette knife
·Acrylic gesso
·Soft cloth