plate no. 6286

Zelfportret met schedel

Carel Willink, 1936

oilMagic Realismself-portraitportraitskullfigureshirttiehands

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in realistic portraiture, including accurate proportions, subtle value gradations, and rendering of textures like skin and fabric. It also provides practice in depicting complex forms like the human skull.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Create a detailed line drawing of the composition, paying close attention to proportions and anatomical accuracy.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin underpainting using a neutral color like burnt umber.
step 03
Begin layering in the skin tones, starting with the mid-tones and gradually building up the highlights and shadows.
step 04
Carefully render the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, paying attention to subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Paint the shirt and tie, focusing on the folds and wrinkles of the fabric and the subtle variations in color.
step 06
Render the skull, paying attention to the complex shapes and textures of the bone.
step 07
Refine the details of the hands, capturing the subtle variations in color and value.
step 08
Adjust the overall composition and add any final touches.

color palette

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

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue

Skin tones are achieved through subtle mixtures of white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and small amounts of red and blue. The shirt is primarily white with subtle gray shadows created by mixing white and black.

techniques