plate no. 9048

Still-Life with Self-Portrait

oilBaroquestill lifestill lifegrapesfruitportraitpaintingpalette

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures and creating depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in composing a complex still life arrangement.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a rough sketch of the composition, paying attention to the placement of the objects and the overall structure.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color, focusing on the dark background first.
step 03
Develop the local colors of the objects, starting with the grapes and fruit.
step 04
Add highlights and shadows to create form and dimension, paying attention to the light source.
step 05
Work on the details of the frame, palette, and other objects in the foreground.
step 06
Refine the textures and details of the grapes, fruit, and other objects, using layering and glazing techniques.
step 07
Add the small portrait and the pen.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic image.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · burnt sienna · cadmium red light · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing the primary colors with each other and with white. Use thin glazes of burnt sienna and raw umber to create depth and warmth.

techniques