plate no. 2720
Self Portrait, January 1916
Charles E. Burchfield, 1916
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in watercolor layering, color mixing for skin tones, and creating dynamic compositions with strong value contrasts. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expressing personality through portraiture.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the portrait, paying attention to the placement of features.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the entire face and shirt as a base layer.
- step 03
Begin building up darker values on the shadowed side of the face using burnt umber and a touch of blue.
- step 04
Add details to the hair using a mix of burnt umber and brown, varying the intensity for highlights and shadows.
- step 05
Paint the background with a deep blue wash, allowing for variations in tone to create depth.
- step 06
Add the bow tie with a mix of blue and green, and paint the dots with a darker green.
- step 07
Refine the details of the shirt, adding shadows and highlights to create texture and form.
- step 08
Use a fine brush or pen to add linear details and outlines, enhancing the structure of the face and clothing.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue
secondary · raw sienna · brown · green
Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for skin tones; add a touch of blue to cool down the tones. Use ultramarine blue straight from the tube for the background, diluting with water for variations in value. Mix blue and green for the bow tie.
techniques
- ·watercolor washes
- ·dry brushing
- ·layering
- ·color mixing
- ·linear detail
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the washes, leading to muddy colors.
- →Not paying attention to proportions in the initial sketch.
- →Using too much water, causing the colors to bleed uncontrollably.
- →Ignoring the value contrasts, resulting in a flat and lifeless portrait.
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·Watercolor paints
- ·Watercolor brushes (round and flat)
- ·Watercolor paper (140lb)
- ·Pencil
- ·Eraser
- ·Water container
- ·Palette
- ·Paper towels
optional
- ·Masking fluid
- ·Palette knife
- ·Ruler
Use high-quality watercolor paper to prevent buckling and ensure vibrant colors. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varying levels of detail.
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