plate no. 1062

Self-Portrait with Dolls and Beard

Armando Reveron, 1949

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitself-portraitfiguresdollsbeard

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice layering techniques and capturing the essence of a subject with limited color and visible brushstrokes. It also encourages simplification of form and value.

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 placement of the figures.
step 02
Establish the overall warm tone of the canvas with a thin wash of yellow ochre.
step 03
Begin blocking in the darker values using burnt umber, focusing on the shadows and contours of the faces and beard.
step 04
Add highlights with white, blending softly to create form.
step 05
Use short, directional brushstrokes to define the texture of the beard and hair.
step 06
Refine the details of the faces, paying attention to the eyes and mouths.
step 07
Add subtle variations in color with touches of green and red.
step 08
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to value and form.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · sap green · cadmium red light

Mix yellow ochre and burnt umber for the base tones. Use white to lighten values. Add small amounts of green or red to create subtle color variations in the shadows and highlights.

techniques