plate no. 2923

Self-Portrait

Roderic O'Conor, 1925

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanfacehairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and using expressive brushstrokes to define form. It also provides practice in mixing subtle skin tones and creating depth with value changes.

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 facial features.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the background, clothing, and skin, focusing on value rather than precise color.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 04
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the face and clothing.
step 05
Develop the hair with loose, expressive brushstrokes, using a variety of values to create texture.
step 06
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and value to create depth.
step 07
Add final details and adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the focal point is the face.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry and then add a varnish to protect the surface and enhance the colors.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · sap green

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of blue or green to neutralize. Use burnt umber and black to create the dark background and shadows.

techniques