How to paint a self-portrait. Bring out your best side with this beautiful gouache-painted project. Look for pattern and color inspiration in your wardrobe, as well as favorite phrases from your favorite books to give a unique twist to the traditional portrait. Your art has never looked so elegant!
What is a self-portrait? It’s a painting of yourself! But you don’t have to make it realistic – this project is a fun way to create an illustrated version of yourself and get creative while doing it. You can also choose your favorite quote to add to the wallpaper as a personal touch. Once you have tried painting yourself, you can also paint your friends and family.
Here we start
Gouache is a versatile medium and a favorite of professional illustrators. It can create beautiful paintings like a self-portrait with bold matte color blocks and is easy for beginners to master. If you’ve never tried gouache before, you have nothing to worry about – we’ll walk you step-by-step through the technique.
Esther says, “Make sure you’ve mixed enough colors in your palette before starting a portrait. Add enough water so that the paint runs off to the side and the brush leaves a smooth edge.”
We recommend investing in a set of gouache paints before starting, such as this Royal and Langnickel 24 Tube Tempera Paint Set (£ 9.70 from Amazon), but if you’re not sure about spending that,,, much you can find more sets. Cheap, e.g., B. at Hobbycraft.
If you’ve never painted with gouache before, check out our guide to gouache for beginners before you get started for pencil sketches and drawings.
Are you looking for other art projects to try? If you want to try painting with a different medium, read our guide to using acrylic paint. We’ve also rounded up some simple watercolor painting ideas, autumn painting ideas, and art journal ideas to get you inspired.
Read on to understand how to paint a selfie …
You will need
- pencil
- paper cartridge
- Brushes of different sizes
- Gouache painting set
Total time:
2 hours
Step 1
Lightly draw your figure in pencil. You can be guided by a photo, mark with a mirror or draw from memory.
Step 2
Paint in the base colors. Try to make the edges smooth, but don’t worry if you make a mistake, as you can paint over them once the paint is dry.
Step 3
Fill your hair in a flat color for added impact. Here Esther left a small blank space in the border for a simple extra detail.
Step 4
Once the base color is dry, she uses a fine brush to add details and patterns. Don’t be scared to go colorful and brave!
Step 5
Color your facial features carefully. There is no requirement to run into too much detail here, and an impression is enough.
Step 6
Currently is the moment to add the comments. Once you’ve chosen a quote, draw it on a blank piece of paper so you can see how it fits the character. When satisfied, practice painting the words before starting the last detail.
Now you know how to paint a selfie! Hang it somewhere in your home where you can admire it every day.
Also read: Tips for making an international move
