plate no. 9801
Zelfportret Aan De Ezel
Mommie Schwarz, 1940
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones and fabric, and creating depth through layering and brushwork. It also offers practice in capturing light and shadow on different surfaces.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
3
study guide
est. 15 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and still life.
- step 02
Block in the main color areas with thin washes, establishing the overall value structure.
- step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using subtle color variations to create form.
- step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and shadows.
- step 05
Paint the still life elements, focusing on the highlights and reflections on the fruit and bowl.
- step 06
Refine the background, adding depth and atmosphere with soft brushstrokes.
- step 07
Add final details and highlights to the face and hands.
- step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
color palette
primary · titanium white · raw umber · ultramarine blue · yellow ochre
secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · burnt sienna
Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red and umber. Use ultramarine blue and white for the cool tones in the clothing and background. Mix greens from blue and yellow, adjusting with red for muted shades.
techniques
- ·alla prima
- ·color mixing
- ·layering
- ·dry brushing
- ·scumbling
common pitfalls
- →Overmixing colors, resulting in muddy tones.
- →Neglecting the importance of value contrast.
- →Getting lost in details too early in the process.
- →Not paying attention to the proportions of the figure.
materials
surface · stretched canvas
required
- ·stretched canvas 18x24
- ·titanium white oil paint
- ·raw umber oil paint
- ·ultramarine blue oil paint
- ·yellow ochre oil paint
- ·cadmium red oil paint
- ·round brushes size 2, 4, 6
- ·linseed oil
optional
- ·palette knife
- ·painting medium
- ·varnish
Use a medium-tooth canvas for better texture. Consider using a limited palette to simplify color mixing.
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