plate no. 3534

Self-portrait

Vasiliy Ryabchenko, 1970

canvas, oilRealismself-portraitportraitself-portraitfigurefacehairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing for skin tones and understanding light and shadow on a face. It also provides practice in capturing a likeness and using visible brushstrokes to create texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the face and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main areas of light and shadow with thin washes of color.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, mixing colors carefully to match the original.
step 04
Pay close attention to the subtle color variations in the face, especially in the cheeks and around the eyes.
step 05
Add details to the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the features of the face, paying attention to the shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add the background colors, blending them softly.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · ivory black

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, and a touch of burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue to cool down the skin tones in shadow areas. Add a touch of ivory black to darken shadows.

techniques

·color mixing
·layering
·blending
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin.
→Overworking the painting, resulting in a stiff and unnatural look.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (titanium white, burnt umber, cadmium red light, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, raw sienna, ivory black)
·palette
·palette knife
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits