plate no. 0908
Self-Portrait with Easel
some experience helpful
This painting offers a good opportunity to practice portraiture with a limited palette and loose brushwork. Students can learn to capture likeness and form using subtle color variations and visible brushstrokes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 10 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the face and figure.
- step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of blue and gray.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of light and shadow on the face and clothing using a limited palette.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
- step 05
Add details to the hair and clothing, using short, broken brushstrokes.
- step 06
Soften edges and blend colors where necessary to create a sense of atmosphere.
- step 07
Add highlights to the face and clothing to create depth and dimension.
- step 08
Refine the background and add any final details.
color palette
primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · raw umber · yellow ochre
secondary · burnt sienna · ivory black
Mix various shades of gray and blue by combining white, blue, and umber. Use yellow ochre and burnt sienna to create warm skin tones, and add small amounts of blue or umber to cool them down.
techniques
- ·dry brush texture
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·portrait sketching
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the loose, painterly quality.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Getting the proportions of the face wrong.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
- →Ignoring the background and focusing only on the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·palette
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
Use a medium-textured canvas to allow for better brushwork.
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