plate no. 9881

Self Portrait

Roderic O'Conor, 1926

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitportraitfigureself-portraitmanclothingshadow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and shadow using expressive brushstrokes and understanding color temperature variations to create form. It also encourages simplification of details to focus on overall impression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the basic proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of dark and light values using thinned paint.
step 03
Establish the darkest areas of the painting first, then move to the mid-tones.
step 04
Start building up the form of the face with layers of color, paying attention to the light source.
step 05
Use thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to define the highlights and details.
step 06
Work on the background, using similar colors and brushstrokes to create a sense of unity.
step 07
Refine the edges and details, softening some and sharpening others to create visual interest.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and form.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

Mix blacks and browns with blues and reds to create cool shadows and warm highlights. Use white to lighten values and create subtle color variations.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting bogged down in details and losing sight of the overall composition.
→Failing to establish a clear light source and value structure.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing and creating subtle variations.