plate no. 1300

Self Portrait

Spyros Papaloukas, 1941

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanfaceheadself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students develop skills in cross-hatching and layering colors to create form and depth. It also encourages careful observation of facial features and tonal values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, face, and features.
step 02
Establish the overall proportions and placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 03
Begin layering light blue and grey to define the shadows and contours of the face.
step 04
Use cross-hatching to build up darker values in areas like the eye sockets, under the nose, and around the jawline.
step 05
Introduce touches of red and yellow to add warmth to the skin tones, particularly around the ears and cheeks.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 07
Continue layering and cross-hatching to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall tonal balance.

color palette

primary · light blue · grey · white

secondary · red · yellow · cream

Mix light blue with white to create lighter shades for highlights. Combine blue and red sparingly to create darker shadows. Use yellow and red to add warmth to the skin tones.

techniques

·cross-hatching
·layering
·color mixing
·tonal value control
·observational drawing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the cross-hatching and losing the sense of form.
→Using too much pressure and creating harsh lines.
→Failing to observe the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Neglecting the importance of highlights and shadows.

materials

surface · smooth drawing paper

required

·Sketch paper
·Graphite pencils (HB, 2B)
·Colored pencils (light blue, grey, red, yellow)
·Eraser
·Blending stump or tortillon
·Drawing board or hard surface

optional

·kneaded eraser
·ruler
·colorless blender pencil

Use a light touch when applying the colored pencils to avoid creating harsh lines. Experiment with different layering techniques to achieve the desired effect.

tips & new artworks in your inbox

no spam — unsubscribe anytime.

or to save artworks, chat, and track progress

chat about this artwork

in this vein