plate no. 1791
Self Portrait in Polish National Costume
Marcello Bacciarelli, 1787
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, rendering skin tones, and capturing likeness. It also provides practice in depicting textures like fur and fabric.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
3
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the basic shapes and proportions of the figure.
- step 02
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the overall value structure.
- step 03
Begin refining the skin tones, paying attention to subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 04
Develop the details of the fur collar, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
- step 05
Paint the clothing, focusing on the folds and shadows.
- step 06
Add details to the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- step 07
Refine the background, ensuring it complements the figure.
- step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · burnt sienna · cadmium red
secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a touch of red. Use raw umber and black for shadows in the fur and clothing. Mix red with a touch of black for the hat.
techniques
- ·portraiture
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·chiaroscuro
- ·rendering fur
common pitfalls
- →Incorrect proportions of the face.
- →Overblending skin tones, resulting in a flat appearance.
- →Failing to capture the texture of the fur.
- →Ignoring subtle shifts in value.
- →Getting the likeness wrong.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·burnt sienna oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·#2 round brush
- ·#6 flat brush
- ·palette
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·medium gloss
Use a medium-grit canvas for best results. Consider using a limited palette to simplify the color mixing process.
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