"Self Portrait (Some things you let go in order to live)". 2018. Charcoal on paper.
|
. Define which techniques you tried and mastered? Struggled?
For this piece I experimented with various applications of charcoal. I practiced layering willow and white charcoal as well as using a smudge stick and my fingers to gradually build body with white charcoal. I struggled to incorporate the brown paper as a value and to add detail to the hair. 2. How did you draw inspiration from other artists techniques or aesthetics in your work? In what ways did you derive meaning or gain historical perspectives from their work? Why these artists? I drew inspiration from Mrs. O'Ryan and her portraits around the room. I also used the artistic material of Florence Welch for the text on the background of the piece. The text is lyrics from the song "Various Storms & Saints". 3. Describe the evolution of your piece. Decisions made. Compositional elements. This piece started with the eyes and evolved outward, following lines drawn on the 16 square grid. I drew the outline of the head and slowly built up value from the center of the face outward, 4. If you could consider doing something over, explain why you would do this and what you would do next time? If I were to make this piece again, I would draw it on paper taped to a wall or I would sand over the table I was drawing on. I drew this sitting down, at an angle to the table the paper was on and inadvertently stretched my face. When I stood back and looked at the final product I was disappointed,. 5. Elaborate on how this piece links with your other pieces? What is the common thread? I draw men in vulnerable positions because they are seldom portrayed that way in art. I think it showcases their more subtle qualities and also takes them down a peg. Yeah, we get it, you have muscles and you're fighting a lion or whatever. That is not a depiction that interests me any. For this reason I used a reference photo for myself I took in the mirror unclothed, and after crying. |