plate no. 5265

Self-Portrait

oilMannerism (Late Renaissance)self-portraitportraitfigurechairruffbookletter

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures such as fabric and paper.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and chair.
step 02
Establish the background with a dark, muted tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the skin, clothing, and chair.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, including the ruff and folds.
step 06
Paint the hands and the objects they are holding (letter and book).
step 07
Refine the chair and add details like the trim.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · yellow ochre

Mix ivory black and raw umber for the dark clothing and background. Use titanium white to lighten the skin tones and create highlights. Mix cadmium red with raw umber to create the chair's color.

techniques