plate no. 5351

Self-Portrait (No.20)

Ivan Albright, 1983

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitself-portraitfigureheadhat

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students understand layering colored pencils to create depth and form, and how to use hatching and cross-hatching to build up tone and texture.

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 head, hat, and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the main planes of the face with light pencil strokes.
step 03
Begin layering the background with light green and yellow, using directional strokes.
step 04
Start building up the darker values in the face with blues, purples, and browns, using hatching and cross-hatching.
step 05
Add the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 06
Develop the form of the hat with greens and browns, following the contours of the shape.
step 07
Refine the shadows and highlights to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the overall balance of the portrait.

color palette

primary · yellow-green · grey · blue-grey

secondary · brown · purple · red

Achieve the skin tones by layering grey, blue, purple, and red. Mix greens with yellow and blue for the hat and background.

techniques

·hatching
·cross-hatching
·layering
·color blending
·directional strokes

common pitfalls

→Overworking the drawing and losing the freshness of the initial sketch.
→Not paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
→Making the lines too dark and heavy.
→Failing to establish a clear focal point.

materials

surface · Drawing paper

required

·Set of colored pencils
·Drawing paper
·Eraser
·Pencil sharpener
·Sketchbook
·Blending stump

optional

·Kneaded eraser
·Fixative spray

Use a variety of colored pencils to achieve the subtle color variations in the portrait. Experiment with different layering and blending techniques to create depth and texture.

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