plate no. 1136

Self-Portrait painting Sowing New Seed

William Orpen, 1913

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitself-portraitfigureartistpaintingbackground figureslandscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and creating depth through layering and brushwork. It also provides practice in depicting figures in different styles and levels of detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the artist's figure and the background elements.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color, starting with the background and then moving to the figure.
step 03
Develop the values and tones in the artist's face, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Add details to the artist's clothing and hands, using a variety of brushstrokes to create texture.
step 05
Refine the background figures and landscape, simplifying the forms and colors as they recede into the distance.
step 06
Mix the colors for the skin tones of the figures in the background and apply them with loose brushstrokes.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the highlights in the eyes and the shadows under the chin.
step 08
Glaze the painting to unify the colors and create a sense of depth.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · titanium white · ivory black

secondary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · cadmium red

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use blue and yellow to create greens for the landscape. Vary the intensity of colors by mixing with white or black.

techniques