plate no. 1317

Self-Portrait

oilImpressionismself-portraitportraitfigureself-portraitmanfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth using subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expressing emotion through facial features.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and facial features.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and neck.
step 04
Begin layering colors to build up skin tones, focusing on subtle variations.
step 05
Define the features (eyes, nose, mouth) with more detail.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension.
step 07
Refine the hair, paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to values and colors to achieve a likeness.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue

secondary · cadmium red light · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use blue and umber to create shadows and cool tones. Add small amounts of black to darken values.

techniques