plate no. 6884

Self-portrait

Vincenzo Caprile, 1914

oilRealismself-portraitportraitmanclothinghatfaceself-portrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions and rendering of skin tones. It also offers practice in depicting clothing folds and textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval shape and the basic proportions of the figure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes of the face, hat, and clothing with thin washes of color.
step 03
Establish the light and shadow patterns on the face, paying attention to the planes of the head.
step 04
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the clothing, adding folds and highlights to create depth.
step 06
Work on the background, blending the colors to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the face and clothing.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red

Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and titanium white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the darks in the clothing and hat. Add a touch of cadmium red for warmth in the skin tones.

techniques