Things You'll Need:
- Mirror
- Sketchbook
- Painting supplies
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Step 1
Study the masters of self-portrait painting. Da Vinci, Picasso and Rembrandt are all good masters to study. Albrecht Dürer is considered among the earliest known formal self-portraitists, so he would also be important to study. It is be more difficult to study modern artists because it is rare for an artist to sell their self-portraits or share them publicly. Many times, a self-portrait will not be uncovered until after the artist's death.
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Step 2
When studying other artists, take into consideration the lighting that was used, the background and the mood. All of these are very important to a self-portrait to convey the soul of the artist.
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Step 3
Observe yourself. This is an important step to any self-portrait. Set up a mirror in your studio or workplace and watch yourself. Don't pose, don't posture, just be yourself.
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Step 4
Sketch yourself as you observe. Do each feature separately, at first. For example, do a study of just your eyes. Then, do a study of your nose. Keep going until you know each part of your body intimately.
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Step 5
Sketch your whole face, now. Pay attention to how far your eyes are from your nose, the length of your eyebrows, where blemishes and freckles are and where your dimples are. These little things are what give your face personality, so make sure you record them well.
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Step 6
Set up for your painting. Transfer your best sketch to your canvas or paper and mix your paints. Don't be afraid to hold your hand near your paints to test the flesh tones. Just remember that paint dries darker and your hands are usually darker than your face.
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Step 7
Look in the mirror as you paint. This way, you can achieve accurate tones and shadowing.
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Step 8
When you are done with the painting, leave it for a day or two and come back. Add anything you may have overlooked, such as a mole or scar.
