plate no. 9073

Self Portrait

Tetyana Yablonska, 1995

oil, canvasImpressionismself-portraitportraitfigurefacehairclothingindoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and capturing likeness through color and value relationships. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the overall warm/cool color temperature of the painting with a thin wash.
step 03
Block in the major areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using broad brushstrokes.
step 04
Refine the shapes and values of the facial features, paying attention to the subtle transitions between light and shadow.
step 05
Add details such as the hair and wrinkles, using smaller brushstrokes and varying the paint thickness.
step 06
Develop the background with loose, gestural strokes, suggesting the surrounding environment.
step 07
Adjust the overall color harmony and value contrast to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to bring the painting to life.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · sap green · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of skin tones using yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create neutral grays and greens for the clothing and background. Add small amounts of cadmium yellow to warm up the skin tones.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·alla prima
·scumbling
·color temperature

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat or muddy painting.
→Getting bogged down in trying to achieve a perfect likeness, instead of focusing on the overall impression.
→Ignoring the importance of color temperature in creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.