plate no. 6613

Self Portrait [No. 4]

Charles M. Russell, 1900

oilRomanticismself-portraitfiguremanclothinghatportraitscarf

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in figure drawing, watercolor washes, and capturing light and shadow to create form. It also provides practice in depicting clothing and accessories with loose, expressive brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the figure's pose and proportions, paying attention to the overall composition.
step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted yellow ochre or raw sienna to the background, allowing it to dry.
step 03
Begin layering washes of color for the skin tones, using a mix of burnt sienna, alizarin crimson, and a touch of ultramarine blue.
step 04
Paint the clothing with darker washes of browns and blacks, leaving some areas lighter to suggest highlights.
step 05
Add the details of the hat and scarf, using brighter colors and more defined brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the facial features and add shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the clothing and accessories.
step 08
Evaluate and adjust the values and colors as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue · raw umber · yellow ochre

secondary · alizarin crimson · cadmium yellow

Mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue for the darker clothing tones. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the skin tones, adding alizarin crimson for warmth. Dilute colors with water to create transparent washes.

techniques