plate no. 8724

Vjeran Čengić Autoportret

Vjeran Čengić, 2018

pigment, acrylic, canvas, mixed media, oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitself-portraitfiguremanfacehands

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in expressive brushwork and color mixing to create a dynamic and textured portrait. Students will also learn to simplify complex forms into abstract shapes and colors.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and placement of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color using thin washes of paint, focusing on the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin building up layers of paint with thicker, more expressive brushstrokes, defining the forms and adding texture.
step 04
Mix a variety of colors by combining primary colors with white and black.
step 05
Pay attention to the direction of the brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and energy.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Refine the details of the face and hands, paying attention to the subtle variations in color and value.
step 08
Add final touches and adjust the overall composition as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre · alizarin crimson · titanium white

secondary · viridian green · dioxazine purple · cadmium yellow light

Achieve the various blues and purples by mixing ultramarine blue with alizarin crimson and white. Greens can be created by mixing yellow ochre and viridian green. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·impasto
·broken color
·expressive brushwork
·color mixing
·layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the painting and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Creating muddy colors by overmixing.
→Neglecting the overall value structure and focusing too much on individual details.
→Not varying the brushstrokes enough, resulting in a flat and lifeless painting.