plate no. 5472

Self-portrait

oilBaroqueself-portraitportraitfigureskullbookhairwriting

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, rendering textures, and creating a sense of depth through value and color variations. It also provides practice in depicting complex forms like hair and drapery.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the figure, skull, and book.
step 02
Establish the background with a warm, muted brown tone, varying the values slightly.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the figure's clothing and hair using a dark brown or black.
step 04
Start building up the highlights on the face and hands using lighter tones of ochre and white.
step 05
Carefully render the skull, paying attention to the subtle gradations of light and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the book and the writing on the skull.
step 07
Refine the hair, adding individual strands and highlights to create texture.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna

Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white. Use small amounts of black to darken shadows. Create the warm background by mixing burnt umber and raw umber with a touch of yellow ochre.

techniques