plate no. 3403

Self-Portrait

Vilho Lampi, 1931

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremancapfaceclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and using visible brushstrokes to create form and texture. It also encourages observation of light and shadow to define shapes.

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 of the head, cap, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: the background, the skin tones, the cap, and the clothing.
step 03
Establish the darkest shadows and the brightest highlights to define the form.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones by layering and blending colors, focusing on the planes of the face.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small brushstrokes.
step 06
Define the cap and clothing with visible brushstrokes, following the direction of the forms.
step 07
Adjust the background to create depth and contrast.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall effect.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · black · raw umber · cadmium yellow

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and white, adjusting proportions for highlights and shadows. Use ultramarine blue and black to create the darker areas of the cap and clothing. Mix yellow ochre and white for the light background.

techniques

·blocking in
·layering
·blending
·dry brush
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Over-blending, which can result in a muddy appearance.
→Ignoring the underlying structure of the face, leading to inaccurate proportions.
→Using too much detail too early, which can make the painting look stiff.
→Not paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes, which can flatten the form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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