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home·artworks·Self-portrait with a bouquet of flowers
Self-portrait with a bouquet of flowers by Oleksa Novakivskyi

plate no. 0916

Self-portrait with a bouquet of flowers

Oleksa Novakivskyi, 1933

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitself-portraitfigureflowersbeardhairbouquet
some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create form and texture. It also encourages observation of light and shadow to define the subject's features.

technical profile

palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
3

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

  1. step 01

    Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and bouquet.

  2. step 02

    Establish the background with broad strokes of color, focusing on the overall tone.

  3. step 03

    Block in the main areas of color for the face, hair, beard, and clothing.

  4. step 04

    Begin to define the forms with thicker, more expressive brushstrokes, paying attention to the direction of the strokes.

  5. step 05

    Mix and apply subtle variations of color to create depth and dimension.

  6. step 06

    Add highlights and shadows to enhance the contrast and create a sense of volume.

  7. step 07

    Refine the details of the face and hair, using smaller brushes to add texture and definition.

  8. step 08

    Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and expressive result.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ivory black · yellow ochre · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of skin tones using white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Create darker tones by adding black or ultramarine blue to the mixtures.

techniques

  • ·impasto
  • ·broken color
  • ·expressive brushwork
  • ·scumbling
  • ·alla prima

common pitfalls

  • →Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
  • →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
  • →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them.
  • →Ignoring the direction of the brushstrokes, which should follow the form.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

  • ·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
  • ·oil paints (titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, burnt umber, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue, alizarin crimson)
  • ·palette
  • ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
  • ·linseed oil
  • ·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
  • ·palette knife
  • ·rags

optional

  • ·painting medium (e.g., Liquin)
  • ·varnish
  • ·easel

Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Experiment with different brush sizes and shapes to achieve a variety of textures.

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related guides

oil painting for beginners →color theory for painters →how to learn by studying the masters →
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