👩‍🦰 The Self Portrait - More difficult than you think!

037 Seven year old Me

(fig.1)

So I decided it was finally time to attempt a picture of myself.  At least if I mess it up it's only me I can offend!  

This photo was taken at primary school in 1978 (long before we had to wear a uniform) and it seems like a good choice, but oh good god did I hate that dress?!  

I am using my usual technique of printing the picture, cutting it out to make a template and then copying the rest in.

I also decided to paint the background before using the template (fig.1)

(fig.2)

                                

This picture looks so freaky!  

I wanted to put into practice the skills I have learned recently with skin colours and tones.  I started off as usual by painting the base colour (fig 1).  This is 

Pebeo Acrylic Paint in a 59ml bottle called 'Soft Skin' Matt.

Because the background was quite dark in this case, I needed to do a few layers of this base colour (waiting for each layer to dry, before applying the next) to give a really good covering.  If you have to do this be careful not to 'cake' the paint on.  This will show through and at the end when it is completed the overall finish of the piece can look tacky and very noticeable.  Apply the paint in small amounts and really spread it out.

(fig.3)

                                   

Once the base layer was completed in all areas where skin is visible it was time to add the next shade, Warm Glow as shown in fig.3. 

 This was made by mixing the following colours

Pebeo Acrylic Paint in a 59ml bottle called'Soft Skin' Matt.

Pebeo Acrylic Paint in a 59ml bottle called 'Rose' Matt

I applied this in areas where the skin looked pinky and warm in the photo.

(fig.4)

Fig. 4 shows the 'Highlights' stage added.  This was mixed using the following colours.

Pebeo Acrylic Paint in a 59ml bottle called 'Soft Skin' Matt.

Pebeo Studio Acrylics 'high viscosity' Titanium White Opaque

just to add a higher level of Highlight you can use the white on its own in areas of high brightness like the tip of the nose or around the eyes too.

(fig.5)

It rather does depend on the piece you are doing as to what colours you use for each of these elements.  Whenever painting a persons face it is advisable to always remember the key points.  I always do them in this order too.

 

1. Base

2. Warm Glow

3. Highlights 

4. Shadows

Now it is time to add in the Shadows (shown in fig.5) and this makes the face really come to life now.  I used two extra shades for Shadows 

Pebeo Acrylic Paint in a 59ml bottle called'Soft Skin' Matt.

Hobbycraft Acrylic Paint in 60ml bottle called 'Tan'

and

Pebeo Acrylic Paint in a 59ml bottle called'Soft Skin' Matt.

Hobbycraft Acrylic Paint in 60ml bottle called 'Tan'

Pebeo Acrylic Paint in a 59ml bottle called 'Brick Red' Matt**

** PLEASE NOTE THOUGH TO MIX THIS COLOUR I USED A TEENY TINY AMOUNT OF THIS COLOUR

Just as I had added extra Highlight (white) areas I have also added extra Shadow (grey) areas too.  (Fig.5).

(fig.6)

So in fig.6 I have painted the eyes in. If I am going to be hyper-critical the eye on the right looks bigger than the left one.  And also fig.6 also shows a slight mess up in the shading of the cheek on the left.

For the eyes I used black and greys that I already had mixed. I tried to use colours as close to that area of the original picture as possible.

(fig.7)

In fig.7 I have drawn in my teeth and painted them with the Highlights colour that I use in the skin. For the shiniest whiter bits I put in a dab of Titanium White.

I then stood back and observed. Looks OK. I took this photo (fig.7) and on close inspection of that I decided that the space of the chin (between bottom lip and bottom of chin) looked far the big, by a whole 4-5 mm.

(fig.8)

Fig.8 shows the adjustments made to the mouth area and chin. I still need to stand back and really inspect it but I think its looking ok so far.  The eye on the right does need something but I haven't quite figured out what yet.  The laugh line on the right cheek needs more shadow too.  All these tiny adjustments make a huge difference when completed.  You never know, I might get it spot on, I doubt it but you never know!

Fig.8 also shows that I have used Burnt Umber as my 'base' colour for the hair. I have only done the base colour so far and am having a break

(fig.9)

So after close inspection of the recent photo (fig.8) I altered areas that I thought needed attention.  The laugh line on the right, the eye on the right has downsized a little and I added more definition to the chin.  I then worked on the hair.  (Fig.9) is before I worked on the hair.  I mixed a light brown colour and tried to speckle thin wispy lines all over and mixing in with the brush the base Brown.  There is also some black in there too.

Then the very last thing to do was the white trim on the dress.

While it does look better to me I cannot tell if it looks like me or not.  I think not. 
Though I should be very proud of this, it is by far the best ever self portrait I have ever done, I am slightly disappointed with it too.