plate no. 7211
Self-portrait in front of blue background
Richard Gerstl, 1905
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating depth with brushstrokes. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and capturing a likeness.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic figure proportions and pose on the canvas.
- step 02
Block in the background with varying shades of blue, using visible brushstrokes.
- step 03
Establish the basic skin tones with a light wash of color.
- step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of color, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Paint the hair and facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness.
- step 06
Render the towel with loose brushstrokes, suggesting folds and texture.
- step 07
Refine the details and adjust the values to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Titanium White · Yellow Ochre · Burnt Sienna
secondary · Ultramarine Blue · Raw Umber · Cadmium Red Light
Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use Prussian blue and white for the background, varying the ratios for different shades. Add raw umber to darken the blues.
techniques
- ·Blocking in
- ·Layering
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Color mixing
- ·Portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overblending the skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Using too much white, making the colors appear chalky.
- →Neglecting the subtle variations in color and value.
- →Getting the proportions wrong in the initial sketch.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
- ·Oil paints (Prussian Blue, Titanium White, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna)
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Flat brush (size 8)
- ·Palette
- ·Linseed oil
- ·Odorless mineral spirits
- ·Rags
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Medium (e.g., Liquin)
- ·Easel
Use a medium-tooth canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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