Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat, 1887, is one of more than 20 self-portraits painted by Van Gogh between 1886 and 1888. With a limited amount of funds but determination to improve his portrait skills Van Gogh turned to painting himself rather than have to pay models to pose. This image was chosen as a portrait to allow students to practice their mixing of skin tones but also to encourage them to accentuate their brushstrokes.
Below are their results completed in approximately 2.5 hours.