plate no. 4666

Self portrait

oil, canvasRealismself-portraitportraitfiguremanbeardclothingself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering form with a limited palette. It also provides practice in using visible brushstrokes to create texture and depth.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure using a light pencil.
step 02
Block in the large shapes of the background, clothing, and face with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow patterns on the face and clothing.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the beard and hair, using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 06
Develop the texture of the clothing with thicker paint and more visible brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors throughout the painting to create a sense of depth and realism.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and flesh tones by combining burnt umber, raw sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Add small amounts of cadmium red light to warm up the flesh tones. Use ivory black to darken the shadows.

techniques