plate no. 3141

Self-portrait

oilImpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanclothingself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle tonal variations and creating a sense of depth with a limited color palette. It also provides practice in rendering form with visible brushstrokes.

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 and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the background tone with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face, using a mix of browns, yellows, and white.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Paint the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 06
Block in the clothing, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 07
Add details to the collar and tie, using a lighter value to create contrast.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values and colors are balanced.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw umber, and yellow ochre, with small amounts of burnt sienna for warmth. Use ivory black sparingly to darken values.

techniques