plate no. 7636

Self-portrait with a Plucked Eye

Victor Brauner, 1931

oilExpressionismself-portraitself-portraitfigurefaceeyehairportrait

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing to achieve realistic skin tones, and understanding light and shadow to create depth. It also provides an opportunity to explore emotional expression through art.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, face, and features, paying attention to proportions.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of yellow ochre and white.
step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face using burnt umber, raw sienna, and white.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, focusing on the eyes, nose, and mouth. Pay close attention to the subtle variations in skin tone.
step 05
Add the details of the hair, using short, directional brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Paint the 'plucked eye' area with dark browns and reds, creating a sense of depth and texture.
step 07
Refine the overall painting, adjusting values and adding highlights to create a sense of realism.
step 08
Add final details and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and white in varying proportions. Use small amounts of cadmium red to add warmth and ivory black to create shadows.

techniques

·blending
·scumbling
·layering
·value studies
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Failing to accurately capture the proportions of the face.
→Using colors that are too saturated and unnatural.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in skin tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
·oil paints (burnt umber, raw sienna, titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium red, ivory black)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife