plate no. 4683

Self Portrait with Letter

Gwen John, 1907

oilPost-Impressionismself-portraitportraitfigureletterfacehairclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle tonal variations and creating a sense of depth with a limited color palette. It will also encourage careful observation of facial features and proportions.

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 proportions of the face, hair, and body.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of muted pinkish-gray.
step 03
Block in the main areas of shadow and light on the face, using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the subtle shifts in value and color.
step 05
Paint the hair, using darker tones to create depth and volume.
step 06
Add the clothing, using a simple, dark color.
step 07
Paint the letter, paying attention to the highlights and shadows.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · ivory black · cadmium red light

Mix raw umber and titanium white for the skin tones, adding small amounts of burnt sienna or cadmium red light for warmth. Use ivory black and raw umber for the darks in the hair and clothing.

techniques