plate no. 9978
Self-portrait with wife and daughter
Filipp Malyavin, 1911
experienced study
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing complex textures with visible brushstrokes and layering colors to create depth and visual interest. It also encourages exploration of color mixing to achieve nuanced tones and highlights.
technical profile
palette complexity
4
brushwork visibility
5
value contrast
4
compositional simplicity
2
study guide
est. 20 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main figures and their positions.
- step 02
Establish the background with broad strokes, focusing on the overall color scheme.
- step 03
Block in the main colors of the figures' clothing and skin tones.
- step 04
Start layering colors and adding details to the clothing, paying attention to the patterns and textures.
- step 05
Refine the facial features, using small brushstrokes to capture the likeness of the subjects.
- step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
- step 07
Continue to refine the details and textures throughout the painting.
- step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.
color palette
primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white
secondary · alizarin crimson · viridian green · cadmium yellow
Achieve the skin tones by mixing yellow ochre, burnt umber, and alizarin crimson with white. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the darker shades in the clothing and background. Mix viridian green and cadmium yellow for the lighter greens.
techniques
- ·broken color
- ·scumbling
- ·impasto
- ·layering
- ·alla prima
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the details too early in the process.
- →Failing to establish a strong value structure.
- →Using colors straight from the tube without mixing.
- →Losing the overall composition by focusing too much on individual elements.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·oil paints (yellow ochre, burnt umber, ultramarine blue, titanium white, alizarin crimson, viridian green, cadmium yellow)
- ·assorted brushes (round, flat, filbert)
- ·palette
- ·palette knife
- ·linseed oil
- ·turpentine
- ·rags
optional
- ·retouch varnish
- ·painting medium
Use high-quality oil paints for best results. Consider using a medium to thin the paints and improve flow.
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