plate no. 5736

Self Portrait in a Paris Bath House

Beauford Delaney, 1971

oilExpressionismself-portraitfigureportraitinteriorclothingchairabstract background

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a mood. It also provides practice in depicting the human form with simplified shapes and bold outlines.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure, chair, and background elements using light pencil lines.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background using a thin wash of yellow and ochre.
step 03
Define the figure's skin tone using a mix of black, brown, and touches of red and white.
step 04
Add the red and green details of the clothing and accessories, paying attention to the brushstroke direction.
step 05
Build up the texture in the background by layering different shades of yellow, ochre, and brown with visible brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the facial features and add highlights to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired expressive effect.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · black · red

secondary · green · burnt sienna · titanium white

Achieve the background colors by mixing yellow ochre with white and small amounts of burnt sienna. The figure's skin tone is a mix of black with touches of red and white for highlights.

techniques