plate no. 7759
Self-Portrait the Day of the First Communion
Fernando Botero, 1970
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in blending smooth gradients and understanding how to depict volume through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and simple objects.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
2
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 12 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and objects.
- step 02
Block in the background with a light blue-gray wash.
- step 03
Establish the main color areas for the skin, clothing, and objects.
- step 04
Begin adding shadows and highlights to create volume and form.
- step 05
Refine the details of the face, clothing, and objects.
- step 06
Paint the flowers and candle, paying attention to their individual shapes and colors.
- step 07
Add the small demons in the upper right corner.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to achieve a cohesive and balanced composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue
secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · ivory black
Mix various shades of white with yellow ochre and burnt umber for the skin tones. Use ultramarine blue and white for the background. Achieve the off-white of the clothing by mixing white with a touch of yellow ochre and burnt umber.
techniques
- ·blending
- ·layering
- ·glazing
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the blending, resulting in a muddy appearance.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Inaccurately capturing the proportions of the figure.
- →Getting lost in the details too early in the process.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·acrylic or oil paints
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·flat brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil (if using oil paints)
- ·odorless mineral spirits (if using oil paints)
optional
- ·painting medium
- ·retarder medium
- ·varnish
Use a smooth canvas to facilitate blending. Consider using a medium to slow the drying time of the paints.
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