plate no. 6825

Self portrait

Vladimir Makovsky, 1905

oil, canvasRealismself-portraitportraitmanpalettebrushesclothingbeard

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones, as well as understanding value relationships and brushwork techniques to create depth and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, palette, and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, layering colors to create depth and realism.
step 04
Develop the details of the beard and hair, paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
step 05
Work on the clothing, using darker values to create shadows and form.
step 06
Paint the palette and brushes, capturing the variety of colors and textures.
step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure without distracting from it.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to enhance the overall realism and impact of the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Use ivory black and burnt umber to create dark tones for the clothing and background. Mix greens and browns for the palette.

techniques

·portraiture
·color mixing
·layering
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
→Overworking the skin tones and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to create enough contrast between light and shadow.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin and clothing.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas 18x24
·oil paints (ivory black, titanium white, burnt umber, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, raw sienna)
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·palette
·linseed oil
·turpentine
·palette knife