plate no. 7053

St. John the Baptist (Self-Portrait)

Carel Willink, 1938

oilMagic Realismself-portraitfigureportraitlandscapefoliageskyhands

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, anatomy, and creating realistic skin tones with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in rendering complex textures and atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a detailed sketch of the figure, paying attention to proportions and anatomical accuracy.
step 02
Block in the background elements: the wall, foliage, and distant landscape.
step 03
Establish the basic skin tones using a limited palette, focusing on light and shadow.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details in the hands, capturing the subtle variations in tone and texture.
step 06
Add details to the background, including the foliage and distant landscape.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting values and colors as needed.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red light

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and small amounts of red and umber. Use blue and green to create cooler shadows. Mix ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create darks for the background.

techniques