plate no. 9524

Self-portrait with Blue Spotted Background

Richard Gerstl, 1907

oilPointillismself-portraitportraitfiguremanclothingself-portraitbow tie

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and pointillism techniques. It also encourages observation of subtle color variations and understanding how small strokes can create form.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Apply a thin underpainting of burnt sienna to the entire canvas.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color: the skin tones, clothing, and background.
step 04
Begin applying small, individual strokes of color to build up the form and texture.
step 05
Focus on layering different colors to create depth and dimension.
step 06
Pay attention to the direction and density of the brushstrokes.
step 07
Refine the details of the face and clothing.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Burnt sienna · Yellow ochre

secondary · Titanium white · Cadmium orange · Emerald green

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Create the blue-green background by mixing Prussian blue, emerald green, and titanium white. Darken colors with burnt sienna and lighten with titanium white.

techniques

·Pointillism
·Color layering
·Dry brush
·Scumbling
·Underpainting

common pitfalls

→Overblending the colors, which will lose the pointillist effect.
→Using strokes that are too large or uniform.
→Ignoring the subtle color variations in the skin tones.
→Not establishing a strong underpainting.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (Prussian blue, Burnt sienna, Yellow ochre, Titanium white, Emerald green)
·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
·Palette
·Palette knife
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Paper towels