Self portraits

Self Portrait Assignment• In class we will also be learning proportions of the face and students

are to create a self portrait sketch …including shading.• Students are to research a modern artist that creates self portraits,

please see me once you have chosen your artist. If you get stuck I have a folder on my Pintrest site (Shelly Amor) under self portraits.

• Any medium may be used, try and use what we have in the art room. Oil paints or any other toxic material may not be used for this assignment. Practice sheets of some of the techniques used may be handed in as process marks

• Students are to hand in this research including: reference pictures, information on their artist, pictures of their artist’s work and a description of their artist’s technique (minimum 2 pages) Please place in a file and hand in with your final artwork.

• Also handed in with the file are any sketches/ practice techniques that were used to create their self portrait in this style. As well as a reflection sheet on your final artwork

• Tell me if you require certain materials such as boards or watercolour paper.

AlinaGwenn Seemel

Realistic anatomy of human figure with unrealistic but colourful and cartoon-like shading. Use of cross hatching, textures and shapes (squares and rectangles) to shade (ex. Red squarish skin and multicoloured hair). Not much blending of paint.

Background undetailed with patterns (ex. hair clips) and square brush strokes and gradient.

Gwenn first interviews the subject and takes photos of the model during the interview (informal and easygoing, gets to know the subject).

Likely starts off with simple flat colour (peachy for skin, brown for hair), then adds shading and texture bit by bit, layer by layer.

http://www.gwennseemel.com/http://www.gwennseemel.com/index.php/blog/

Techniques

• http://stephiebutler.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-dream.html

• Using water color, in the link above she describes precisely her techniques used to create this effect.

• First she draws lines in pencil really lightly, and erases irrelevant one

• Next, she uses one color in light washes then adds on layers of colors. She tries to use colors that are of similar hues.

http://stephiebutler.blogspot.com/2011/02/face-of-africa.html

Self Portrait Reflection

How I got this idea• We were given a very generic theme. We had to do a self-portrait with a style that was not our own. So, to choose a style that I’m not

used to, I started thinking “What do I do usually? What don’t I do?” I came to realize that I draw things very realistically and I tend not to want to do anything too irregular in my painting style. I saw “Eyestrain’s” art and I decided I really wanted to try it.

Style/Method• My artist, “Eyestrain” from deviantart draws faces on different animals. In these cases, he drew human faces on the bodies of deer. I

borrowed the deer from “Quiet Spirit” and made several changes to it. I made the fur different, horns in my own style, and I used my face so it would still be a self-portrait. For the fur, instead of using my own watercolour style that I had developed, (many, many layers involved) I decided to paint with little water. So the paint is thicker and darker when I put it on.

Symbols/Reasons• I chose a deer because it is one of my favourite animals, the others being moths and merlins. I also chose to change the horns to

something that suits me more. (Blue, with lots of swirls and gradients :D)Like/Dislike• I really like the texture of the fur I did. I’m also very happy with the colours I chose for it. If I could fix something, it would probably the

messup on my upper lip. And maybe I would tweak the colour scheme of the horns a bit because they seem to be more purple than the body.

Elements and principles• -Texture: Furry texture of fur from repeated layers, smalls brush strokes, and dabbing with a dry brush• -Value: Darkness/Light where the muscles/joints flex/meet. (Lighter greens to dark ultramarine)• -emphasis: emphasis on the face (right in the middle of the page, eyes stand out)