plate no. 7980

Self-Portrait In Winter Coat

watercolorImpressionismself-portraitportraitfigurewinter coatskysnowhorse-drawn sleigh

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor layering, loose brushwork, and capturing likeness with simplified forms. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective and suggesting details rather than rendering them precisely.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, coat, and background elements.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted blue for the sky and snowy areas, leaving some areas white for highlights.
step 03
Begin layering washes of blue, brown, and gray to define the coat and hat, building up darker values gradually.
step 04
Mix a flesh tone and apply it to the face, paying attention to the planes and shadows.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using small, controlled brushstrokes.
step 06
Paint the staff with brown and ochre washes, suggesting texture with dry brush strokes.
step 07
Add the distant horse-drawn sleigh with diluted washes of gray and blue.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust values as needed to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · cerulean blue · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · payne's gray · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre

Mix blues with burnt umber to create various shades of gray and muted blues for the coat and shadows. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber to create the skin tones and the staff.

techniques

·watercolor washes
·dry brush
·layering
·wet-on-wet blending
·atmospheric perspective

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, impressionistic feel.
→Using too much water and creating muddy colors.
→Not allowing layers to dry completely before applying the next.
→Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.

materials

surface · watercolor paper 140lb cold press

required

·watercolor paints
·watercolor brushes (round and flat)
·watercolor paper (140lb cold press)
·palette
·water container
·paper towels

optional

·masking fluid
·palette knife
·kneaded eraser
·ruler

Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and allow for multiple layers. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve various effects.

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