plate no. 3651

Self-Portrait with Death as a Fiddler

oil, canvasSymbolismself-portraitself-portraitfigureskeletonviolinpalettedark background

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict complex forms in a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a preliminary sketch to establish the composition and proportions of the figure, skeleton, and violin.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 03
Begin refining the facial features of the self-portrait, paying close attention to the light and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the skeleton, focusing on the bone structure and texture.
step 05
Paint the violin, capturing its form and the illusion of wood grain.
step 06
Refine the clothing and background, ensuring they recede into the shadows.
step 07
Add highlights and details to create depth and realism.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers of color to unify the painting and create a sense of atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining black, umber, and white. Use yellow ochre and cadmium red to create warm skin tones and the color of the violin.

techniques

·portraiture
·grisaille underpainting
·glazing
·scumbling
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Getting the proportions of the face and skeleton wrong.
→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

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