plate no. 7426

Selfportrait in Spain

Dmitri Zhilinsky, 1991

oilContemporary Realismself-portraitself-portraitlandscapemountainbuildingsfigurevegetation

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering colors to create depth and form, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective in landscapes. It also provides practice in portraiture and capturing realistic skin tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the mountain, buildings, figure, and foreground elements.
step 02
Block in the sky with a thin layer of blue, gradually lightening towards the horizon.
step 03
Establish the basic tones of the mountain, using darker greens for shadows and lighter greens for highlights.
step 04
Paint the buildings with white, adding subtle shadows to define their forms.
step 05
Start blocking in the skin tones of the figure, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 06
Add details to the landscape, such as trees, bushes, and the road, using varying shades of green and brown.
step 07
Refine the details of the figure, including the face, hair, and hand holding the brush.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and realism throughout the painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · cadmium yellow · cadmium red · viridian green

Mix greens by combining blue and yellow, adjusting the ratio for different shades. Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of red. Create atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating colors as they recede into the distance.

techniques