plate no. 3084

Self Portrait

oilBaroqueself-portraitportraitfigureclothingjewelryfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones with subtle value changes. It also provides practice in painting detailed objects like jewelry and clothing.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch of the overall composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then the larger shapes of the figure.
step 03
Establish the basic values of the face, paying close attention to the light and shadow patterns.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate proportions and subtle value changes to create form.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and jewelry, using smaller brushes and finer strokes.
step 06
Blend and refine the edges of the forms to create a smooth, realistic effect.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix various shades of brown and black for the background. Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, red, yellow ochre, and a touch of burnt umber. Use glazes of red and brown to create depth in the clothing.

techniques