plate no. 2228

Study for Self-Portrait

oilContemporary Realismsketch and studyportraitfiguremanself-portraitheadshoulders

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including accurate proportions, capturing likeness, and understanding subtle value shifts to create form. It also provides practice in blending and layering techniques to achieve realistic skin tones and soft edges.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and features.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure by blocking in the darkest and lightest areas with thin washes.
step 03
Begin layering in the mid-tones, focusing on the planes of the face and the direction of light.
step 04
Refine the features, paying close attention to the shapes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the hair, using a combination of soft blending and sharper strokes to create texture.
step 06
Work on the clothing and background, maintaining a soft, blurred effect.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of depth.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and edges to achieve a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · raw sienna

secondary · ivory black · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, umber, sienna, and small amounts of red and blue. Use black and umber for shadows, and white with a touch of sienna for highlights.

techniques