plate no. 2129

Self portrait in front of flowering trees

Paula Modersohn-Becker, 1902

oil, paper, temperaExpressionismself-portraitportraittreeslandscapefigureskyflowers

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and expression with simplified forms, and in layering colors to create depth and texture.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure and landscape, focusing on proportions and composition.
step 02
Block in the main color areas: sky, background, skin tones, and clothing.
step 03
Begin layering colors to build up the skin tones, using warm and cool hues.
step 04
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Paint the background elements, including the trees, flowers, and landscape, using loose brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the clothing and hair, adding highlights and shadows.
step 07
Add the lettering at the bottom.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · ivory black

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · titanium white

Mix skin tones using burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and a touch of cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and titanium white for the sky. Create greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue.

techniques

·dry brush texture
·color layering
·simplified forms
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details of the face, losing the simplified, expressive quality.
→Creating muddy colors by over-mixing.
→Failing to capture the subtle variations in skin tone.
→Ignoring the overall composition and color balance.