plate no. 7019

Self portrait with a Sunflower

oil, canvasBaroqueself-portraitfigureportraitsunflowerclothingchainhand

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness, and understanding how to render fabric folds and textures using light and shadow. It also provides practice in depicting complex organic forms like the sunflower.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and sunflower.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, blended strokes of muted tones.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure and sunflower with thin washes of color.
step 04
Develop the values and forms of the face, paying attention to subtle shifts in tone.
step 05
Build up the layers of the clothing, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes to create texture.
step 06
Paint the sunflower, focusing on the intricate details of the petals and center.
step 07
Add the chain and other details, refining the edges and adding highlights.
step 08
Glaze and adjust colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · cadmium red

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · raw sienna

Achieve the skin tones by mixing burnt umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use cadmium red mixed with burnt umber for the red clothing, and add white for highlights. Mix yellow ochre with raw sienna for the sunflower petals.

techniques

·portraiture
·chiaroscuro
·glazing
·scumbling
·alla prima

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
→Overworking the details too early.
→Failing to create a sense of depth.
→Using colors that are too saturated.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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