plate no. 1106

Self-Portrait

oilImpressionismself-portraitportraitfigureself-portraitmanfacehair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand color mixing for skin tones and practice visible brushstroke techniques to build form. It also provides an opportunity to study portrait proportions and capturing likeness.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of burnt sienna and raw umber.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face using a limited palette of white, yellow ochre, and burnt umber.
step 04
Mix and apply skin tones, focusing on subtle color variations in the light and shadow.
step 05
Paint the hair using short, directional brushstrokes to indicate form and texture.
step 06
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to accuracy and expression.
step 07
Paint the clothing, using a similar approach to the face with visible brushstrokes.
step 08
Refine the painting, adjusting values and colors as needed to achieve a cohesive and expressive portrait.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Darker tones are created by adding burnt umber and a small amount of black.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·color mixing
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Ignoring the underlying structure of the face.
→Getting lost in details too early.
→Not paying attention to the light source.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·Oil paints: burnt sienna, raw umber, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, ivory black
·Round brushes (#2, #4, #6)
·Flat brushes (#4, #8)
·Palette
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife