plate no. 4661

Self-Portrait With Black Mouth,

Helene Schjerfbeck, 1939

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfacefigureself-portraitexpressionism

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice simplifying forms and capturing a likeness with limited color and visible brushstrokes. Students can learn to create depth and dimension using subtle value changes within a limited palette.

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 and proportions of the face and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with a thin layer of pinkish-red.
step 03
Establish the main areas of light and shadow on the face using a light gray mixture.
step 04
Add darker tones to define the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Paint the clothing with a light gray-green, indicating folds and shadows.
step 06
Refine the shapes and edges of the facial features, paying attention to the artist's expressive style.
step 07
Add subtle color variations to the face and background to create depth.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · raw umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre

Mix white with small amounts of raw umber and red to achieve the various skin tones. Use black sparingly to darken shadows. Mix white with raw umber and a touch of yellow ochre for the clothing.

techniques

·blocking in
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·limited palette
·expressive brushwork

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the expressive quality.
→Using too much black, which can make the painting look muddy.
→Struggling with proportions and likeness.
→Failing to capture the subtle value changes.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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