Bring out your best side with this gorgeous project painted in gouache. Look for pattern and colour inspiration in your wardrobe, as well as favourite phrases from your best-loved books, to add a unique twist to the traditional portrait. Your art never looked so stylish!
What is a self portrait? It is, of course, 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 be creative in the process. You could even choose your own favourite quote to add to the background as a personal touch. Once you've had a go at painting yourself, you could try painting your friends and family too.
Gouache is a versatile medium to use and professional illustrators are particularly fond of it. It can be used to create beautiful paintings with bold opaque blocks of colour and it's easy enough for beginners to master. If you've never tried using gouache before, there's need to worry: we'll guide you through the technique step by step.
Esther says: "Make sure you have enough colour mixed in your palette before you start. Add enough water so that the paint glides onto the page and your brush leaves a smooth edge."
We'd recommend that you invest in a gouache paint set before you begin, such as this Royal and Langnickel gouache painting set with 24 tubes (£9.70 from Amazon), but if you're not sure if you want to spend that much you can find cheaper sets in places such as Hobbycraft.
If you haven't painted with gouache before, take a look at our beginner's guide to gouache before you begin.
Looking for more art projects to try? Try making our DIY painted plant pots, learn how to paint a watercolour cactus or have a go at monochrome painting for beginners. If you would like to try painting in another medium, read our how to use acrylic painting guide. We've also put together some easy watercolour painting ideas, fall painting ideas and art journal ideas to inspire you.
Read on to learn how to paint a self portrait…
