plate no. 6431

Self Portrait

Yiannis Moralis, 1938

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremanhatbookshelfclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and creating depth using a limited color palette. It also provides practice in layering and blending paint to achieve subtle tonal variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, paying attention to the placement of the head, shoulders, and features.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure's clothing and skin.
step 03
Begin to refine the shapes and values of the face, focusing on the highlights and shadows to create form.
step 04
Add details to the clothing and hat, paying attention to the texture and folds.
step 05
Work on the background details, such as the bookshelf and the subtle variations in tone.
step 06
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and adding highlights to create a sense of depth.
step 07
Add final details and touches to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 08
Let the painting dry and add a varnish to protect the surface.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Mix ivory black and raw umber with varying amounts of titanium white to create the range of grays and browns needed for the skin tones and clothing. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna sparingly to add warmth to the skin and background.

techniques