Skip to main content

Project #11 Alternative Self Portraits: Not Just Another Pretty Face >> Final

Your final assignment for SA 111 will turn the lens onto you!
1. There are two parts to this assignment
2. Each one should be fully developed to the best of the student's ability 
3. Your drawings should illustrate advancement in your skill throughout the semester
4. Your drawings should also illustrate creative activity, excellent time management, the evolution of the assignment fully displayed in your sketchbook and full engagement on your part

Part ONE
In your Sketchbooks
Graphite on paper compose your eye, nose, mouth
- Capture the values of the surrounding area
- Use a full value range
- Make use of your pencil marks following a planar analysis of each of your features
- Remember each feature is surrounded by an area of your face
- Your drawings should be larger than life-size



Part TWO
Graphite
Watercolor Paper
A patterned piece of paper (origami/wrapping paper) or fabric

- Make use of a handheld mirror as your viewfinder
- Compose a number of your facial features - first in your sketchbook
- Experiment with the scale of your facial features and mirror outline
- Look intensely at each feature and develop a full value range
- In the negative space draw the pattern you have brought in
Arrange in such a way to develop an interesting play on its scale too
- Using watercolors/stains and full opacity of color paint the local color of this patterned area in the drawing

 SPRING 2018
PART 1









FALL 2018










Part THREE
Strathmore #140 paper
Reaves BFK paper
Arches #140 paper
Watercolor paper
Paper size smallest edge 18"
Papers are sold separately in the Bookstore in the black flat files in the back of the shop
> Strathmore, Rieves BFK, #140 Watercolor paper, others

Alternative Self Portraits
What do creative self-portraits express about the artist?
- Self-portraits allow the artist to practice both their drawing and compositional skills
- Self-portraits can express different expressions and moods reflective of the artist
- Self-portraits can preserve a memory
- Self-portraiture requires self-exploration in order for the artist to make the best decisions to how they wish to represent themselves

Expression, gesture, clothing, spatial conditions, texture, media, color, mark making, the expressionistic style will collectively reveal what you wish to convey to your audience, emotion, gesture, etc. 

The question thus becomes, what do you want to say about yourself?

Media on rag paper:
Make use of the media we have used in class including graphite, charcoal, Conte crayon, pastel, collage, watercolor, ink  -- it is your choice and may be a combination of these media

TIP: Make a Mind Map of what makes you You in your sketchbook
A mind map is a diagram used to represent words, concepts, images, tasks, etc. that link and spread radially around a centralized theme. Mind maps are used to generate ideas and visualizations, structure and to ultimately clarify and classify ideas. 

 Ours will be I D E N T I T Y
Think about your values, your inspirations, your traditions, customs, ethnicity, friends/family, your interests, your appearance, how you like to spend your free time, etc. 

1. Create a preliminary mind map of your goals, influences, aspirations, interests, personality, etc. in your sketchbook to plan your ideas for Part ONE of your final project

The drawing...
Develop an alternative self-portrait that exemplifies you and the many things that create your unique personality

** Your drawings should illustrate the following: 
- A full value range
- Developed volumes and masses through full value range (no contour edges here folks!)
- The direction of light falling onto objects
- Local color as well as optical color
- 3/4 of your face needs to be included (minimum) to your shoulders
- Media we have used in class


The scale of the paper's smallest edge is 18"
Spring 2019
PART 3








STUDENT FALL 2018













Reference images


Popular posts from this blog

Project #9: White Conte on a Dark Ground

This is a fun exercise to try your hand at and your mind, as you must think in reverse! Similar to charcoal drawings we have been involved with, you must, must, MUST work this type of a drawing up slowly, allowing your values to separate slowly -- and pushing the highest contrast areas of value at the very end. Your goal is to develop a separation of values that identify a foreground, a middle ground, and a background. Video: Ficitional Landscape watch for assistance Homework: On a dark piece of paper -- darker than middle grey, create a drawing with white Conte, pastel or chalk. 10 x 14" The subject matter is taken from observation such as  still life, a landscape from a photograph, human figure Here are some examples:
Read more

Student Multi Media Explorations

Sighting Strategies Abstract Wet Media Explorations The Abstracted Self - Value Studies Beginning Figure Drawing SPRING 2019 Negative Shape Drawings and  Explorations of media Explorations of media Self Portraiture Local/Optical Color selections
Post a Comment
Read more

Project #2 Sighting Practices & Atmospheric Perspective

Drawing by Marina Fridman We can depict what we see most effectively by simplifying our observations. Simplifying values  produces a much more cohesive, believable drawing than recording every value and minute detail that you see. Artists realized this hundred of years ago and created a system of simplifying and organizing values called... The Value Scale Artists use a system of nine (or more) values ranging from white to black, called a value scale. The scale consists of four light values (values 1 to 4”), a middle value (also called a half-tone), and four dark values (values 6 to 9”). A value scale is essentially a simplified gradation. Further Link: https://www.thedrawingsource.com/value-drawing.html Dynamic Value Ranges There is a difference between how we see values in our experience and how an artist or designer may wish to depict those values.  The lightest object in our world humans experienc...
Read more