plate no. 2197

Self-portrait with a fur hat

oilRococoself-portraitportraitmanfur hatclothingfacerococo

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones and textures. It also provides practice in blending and layering paint to create subtle gradations of light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic oval shape and the main features of the face and body, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin wash of neutral color.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin layering paint to build up the skin tones, focusing on subtle color variations and blending.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying close attention to their shape and expression.
step 06
Render the fur hat, using short, broken brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 07
Refine the details of the clothing and scarf, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition and color balance.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Mix skin tones by blending white, yellow ochre, raw umber, and a touch of red. Use black and umber to create shadows. The fur hat is achieved by mixing ochre, umber, and white.

techniques