plate no. 0918

Self Portrait with Nikos Nikolaou

Yiannis Moralis, 1937

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguresmenclothingself-portraitfaces

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and understanding subtle tonal variations in skin tones. It also provides practice in creating depth and form using a limited color palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the two figures onto the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of red and brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color for the faces and clothing, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin to refine the facial features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the shadows and highlights on the faces to create a sense of form and depth.
step 06
Work on the details of the clothing, using subtle variations in tone to suggest texture and folds.
step 07
Refine the background, adding subtle variations in color and tone to create depth.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red light · yellow ochre

Mix burnt sienna and white for the base skin tones. Add small amounts of red and yellow ochre for warmth. Use raw umber and black to create shadows and darker tones.

techniques

·portrait sketching
·tonal painting
·limited palette
·blending
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Incorrect proportions of the facial features.
→Overly harsh or unnatural skin tones.
→Lack of depth and form in the faces.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and tone.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (burnt sienna, raw umber, ivory black, titanium white, cadmium red light, yellow ochre)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife