plate no. 1440
Self-Portrait with Hat
August Macke, 1909
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing light and shadow with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms into basic shapes.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, hat, and shoulders, paying attention to proportions.
- step 02
Establish the background color with broad strokes of yellow and ochre.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the face, hat, and clothing, using a limited palette.
- step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
- step 05
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension in the face and clothing.
- step 06
Develop the texture of the hat and clothing with visible brushstrokes.
- step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and tone.
- step 08
Add final details and adjustments to complete the painting.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white
secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian green
Mix skin tones by blending yellow ochre, burnt umber, and white, with small amounts of alizarin crimson for warmth. Use viridian green and burnt umber to create the dark tones in the suit.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·color mixing
- ·portraiture
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
- →Failing to capture the likeness of the subject.
- →Using too much detail in the background, distracting from the main subject.
- →Not paying attention to the subtle variations in color and tone.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas
- ·oil paints
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·assorted brushes
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·medium gloss
- ·easel
- ·photo reference
Use a medium-sized canvas to allow for expressive brushstrokes. Consider using a toned canvas to create a more unified color scheme.
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